La Favorite – Donizetti Opera
Donizetti’s Opera The Favorite, a Short Opera Summary
La Favorite (The Favorite) an French Grand Opera by Gaetano Donizetti, La Favorite plot summary, La Favorite characters, and opera info.
Gaetano Donizetti’s La Favorite
Composed:1840
First Performance:December 2, 1840
Language: French
Libretto:Alphonese Royer, Gustave Baez, and Eugène Scribe based on d’Arnaud’s play Le Comte de Commminge.
Setting:Castile, Spain (1340)
French Grand Opera in 4 acts.
The Main Characters in La Favorite
- Alphonse, King Alphonse the XI of Castile (baritone)
- Lénore, mistress of the King (mezzo soprano)
- Inés, Lénore’s confidant and friend (soprano)
- Fernand, a young novice (tenor)
- Balthazar, Father Superior of the Monastery (bass)
- Don Gaspard, Minister of the King (tenor)
Basic Plot Summary of La Favorite
Act I
At the monastery of Santiago di Compostela, Fernand, a novice, confesses to his superior (Balthazar) that the reason he has been abstaining from prayer is that he is in love with someone who he saw praying in the church. Fernand is unaware that this woman is Lénore, the mistress of King Alphonse. Balthazar sends Fernand to the island of Léon where he is escorted by Inés (a friend of Lénore) to Lénore. Lénore does not reveal herself to Fernand, and he believes her to be a noblewoman. She urges Fernand to forget her (not revealing that she is the king’s mistress) Fernand is given a commission to the king’s army, vows that he will be successful in battle, and worthy of her hand in marriage.
Act II
Having overcome the Moors in battle, King Alphonse praises Fernand. The king seeks to divorce his wife and marry Lénore. Lénore wanted to become queen, but now begs the king for release (as she loves Fernand). The king refuses, but Don Gaspar (a minister of the king) has intercepted a love letter from an anonymous admirier (Fernand) to Lénore. She refuses to tell the king whom the letter is from. Belthezar, who happens to be the Queen’s father, threatens the king that if he divorces his daughter for Lénore he will be excommunicated from the church.
Act III
For his bravery, Fernand is awarded by the king the granting of a wish. Fernand asks the king to marry Lénore. Alphonse agrees and demands that the two be married at once. Inés is sent to Fernand to explain Lénore’s past to him before they are married. Gaspar stops Inés before she gets to Fernand. After they are married, Fernand learns the truth about Lénore from Belthazar. The news enrages Fernand. He breaks his sword, throws the pieces at the feet of the king and leaves for the monastery.
Act IV
Fernand has returned to the monastery. The queen has died, and the funeral brings back memories of Lénore. Belthazar comforts a new pilgrim who is very ill and near death. The pilgrim is Lénore, disguised as a novice. Fernand sees Lénore. She tells him the truth. Their love is rekindled as he forgives her. She begs him to leave with her, and as they go to leave, she dies in his arms.
Other Operas written by Gaetano Donizetti:
- Anna Bolena
- L’elisir d’amore
- Lucrezia Borgia
- Lucia di Lammermoor
- Maria Stuarda
- Daughter of the Regiment
- Don Pasquale
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