The Sicilian Vespers

Synopsis

PRELUDE

French troops conquer Sicily and wound Procida, forcing him into exile. The French leader Montfort violates a Sicilian woman, who subsequently gives birth to a son. She raises Henri in fanatical political opposition to her attacker, but does not reveal the identity of his father, who has remained in power as Governor.

ACT I

French soldiers commemorate their victory, while the Sicilians bitterly complain about their defeat and oppression. Duchess Hélène, a hostage of Montfort, deplores the fact that the execution of her brother Frédéric the previous year remains unavenged due to the cowardice of the Sicilians. The French laugh at her, and Robert, a soldier of low rank, forces her to sing. Her song becomes a rallying call to the defeated Sicilians to rise and advance on the French. The agitated crowd of Sicilians finally attacks the soldiers, but Montfort’s appearance frightens them and they quickly retreat.

Henri, just released from prison, enters and assures Hélène how deeply he despises the Governor. Montfort, overhearing this, orders Hélène to leave and approaches Henri in a strangely cordial way, offering him a powerful position among his men if he stays away from Hélène. Henri angrily refuses, mocks Montfort’s arrogance and follows Hélène.

ACT II

Procida expresses his joy at returning to his homeland from exile. He and his followers swear vengeance on the French. Henri and Hélène arrive and all seek a way to animate the Sicilians to free themselves – even if it means using violence. Alone, Henri exuberantly declares his love for Hélène. She tells him that she will accept him if he will avenge her brother’s death.

Béthune, one of Montfort’s men, orders Henri to attend a ball at Montfort’s palace that evening. When Henri refuses, he is dragged away by soldiers. Hélène and Procida are determined to continue with the uprising. Their presence motivates French soldiers to abuse Sicilian brides on the way to their weddings; Hélène and Procida scold the petrified men for their cowardice. As the French prepare for the Governor’s ball, Procida, Hélène and their Sicilian followers decide to attend the festivity in masks and assassinate Montfort.

INTERVAL

ACT III

Alone, Montfort broods over his past and repeatedly reads a letter from the woman he once violated, which reveals that Henri is his son and has been raised to hate the Governor. Waiting for Henri to be brought to his palace, he meditates on his loneliness and the futility of power. Henri arrives and is deeply shocked when Montfort reveals himself to be his father. Fearing that he may lose Hélène, he refuses to embrace Montfort and leaves him.

At Montfort’s ball, Hélène and Procida meet with Henri and tell him of their plan to assassinate Montfort. Henri, though refusing to take his father’s side, implores Montfort to leave the ball. The Governor ignores the warning, and when Hélène and Procida draw their daggers, Henri prevents his father’s death by leaping in front of him. The conspirators are arrested and curse Henri as a traitor. He tries to follow them but is restrained by Montfort.

INTERVAL

ACT IV

Henri comes to visit the imprisoned Hélène. He laments his position, torn between duty to his father and love for his country and for Hélène. When she arrives, he begs her to understand his actions and reveals to her his true identity. Hélène is horrified, but when Henri swears his willingness to die for her, she admits that she still loves him.

Procida has secretly received a letter in his cell and tells Hélène that foreign forces are prepared to help the Sicilian resistance. Montfort appears and announces that the prisoners are to be executed. When Procida and Hélène mount the scaffold, Montfort notices Henri’s anguish and promises him to show mercy, if Henri will accept him as his father. Henri gives in, Montfort pardons Procida and orders Henri’s marriage to Hélène. All rejoice; only Procida remains intent on vengeance on the French.

ACT V

French and Sicilians come together to prepare for the marriage of Hélène and Henri. Hélène thanks everyone for their flowers and good wishes, while Henri praises the beautiful evening and exults in his happiness.

Alone with Hélène, Procida scolds her for betraying the Sicilians by marrying Montfort’s son. He tells her that the sound of the wedding bells will also be the signal for the uprising against the French. Hélène does not dare to reveal Procida’s plot. However, she wants to save Henri’s life and thus refuses, to his astonishment, to allow the marriage to go ahead. In consternation, Henri informs his father of Hélène’s strange behaviour, and Montfort commands the wedding celebrations to commence. The bells are rung and the massacre begins.