Cyrano de Bergerac (Alfano)

Cyrano de Bergerac is a 1936 opera in four acts with music by Franco Alfano and a French libretto by Henri Caïn, based on Edmond Rostand's 1897 French drama Cyrano de Bergerac.

The opera received its world premiere at the Teatro Reale in Rome on 22 January 1936, conducted by Tullio Serafin, with soprano Maria Caniglia and tenor José Luccioni in the leading roles.^[1] The performance was sung in an Italian translation by C. Meano and F. Brusa under the title Cyrano di Bergerac.^[2] The first performance sung in French was its French premiere on 29 May 1936, given by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris, with Albert Wolff conducting and soprano Lillie Grandval and tenor José Luccioni in the leading roles.^[3][4]

Many early productions in Italy and elsewhere were sung in Italian. It premiered at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in Italian on 21 May 1937.^[2] In recent years, most productions have returned to the original French text, which was used in the Paris premiere.

Contemporary commentary on the opera by Guido M. Gatti criticised the composer as fearing "to seem too melodramatic", and the opera for being "overdecorated and labored" and containing "difficult and tortuous vocal writing". However, the same analysis also mentioned that "the opera has moments of definite effectiveness and exquisite poetry".^[5]

The US premiere was on 13 May 2005, when the opera was presented at the Metropolitan Opera with Plácido Domingo in the title role and Sondra Radvanovsky as the female lead Roxane.^[6] In May 2017 it was presented anew at the Metropolitan Opera with Roberto Alagna in the title role, and soprano Jennifer Rowley as Roxane in her Metropolitan Opera role debut.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Theater of the Hôtel de Bourgogne, 1640

Nobles and commoners, including Le Bret, Ragueneau, Christian, and Lignière, have gathered for a theatrical performance. Among the actors is Roxane, whose beauty is admired by all. The performance begins with Montfleury's entrance, but he is interrupted after only a few words by a heckler. Cyrano de Bergerac had forbidden Montfleury from performing for a month and now drives him from the stage with threats. The agitated audience is divided. Some side with Cyrano, others with Montfleury. The Vicomte de Valvert speaks out against Cyrano, mentioning his large nose. Immediately, Cyrano draws his rapier and attacks Valvert. During the duel, he entertains the audience with an improvised ballad, describing his movements. The audience cheers his victory. Cyrano explains to Le Bret the reason for his prohibition: Montfleury had cast an unseemly glance at Roxane, whom he adores. He himself, however, has no hope that she could reciprocate his love because of his misshapen nose. Then her governess informs him that Roxane expects him the next morning for a private conversation at Ragueneau's shop. Cyrano is so excited with anticipation that he wants to cool off in a fight. Therefore, a plea for help from Lignière, who is being threatened by the Count de Guiche's men because of a satirical poem, is most welcome. He invites those present to watch the anticipated battle at the Porte de Nesle.

Scene 1: In Ragueneau's bakery kitchen and pastry shop

The next morning, Ragueneau awaits his friend Cyrano and Roxane. Pastry chefs present him with the food they have prepared. One after another, Ragueneau's wife Lise, the impatient Cyrano, some musketeers, and poets arrive. The latter recount an astonishing battle at the Porte de Nesle, in which a single man defeated an entire band. Cyrano modestly omits the fact that he himself was this hero. Finally, Roxane appears, and the others retire. Roxane first thanks Cyrano for his intervention the previous evening—the enamored De Guiche had tried to force Valvert upon her as a "sham husband." But Cyrano's hope for a declaration of love from Roxane is quickly dashed when she tells him of her love for the young cadet Christian. He had been too shy to reveal himself to her, but she was certain of his love because of his ardent gaze. She asked Cyrano, who served in the same regiment, to watch over him and protect him from duels. With the suggestion that Christian should write her a letter, she departed.

Ragueneau and the poets returned, and the cadets from Cyrano's regiment also gathered at the tavern to celebrate Cyrano's victory. Everyone sang a cheerful song ("Ce sont les cadets de Gascogne"). De Guiche tried to recruit Cyrano but had to leave empty-handed. Among the cadets was Christian, who met Cyrano for the first time. Captain Carbon warned him, just to be safe, against making any comments about Cyrano's nose. When Cyrano recounted his battle at the Porte de Nesle, the exuberant Christian couldn't resist interrupting him again and again. Cyrano ignores this for a while, but then sends his comrades out, who are already worried about Christian. However, when Cyrano is alone with Christian, he embraces him, introduces himself as Roxane's cousin, and tells him of her love. It turns out that Christian doesn't feel confident enough to write the letter Roxane expects. Cyrano, on the other hand, would find it easy. The two make a pact: they will woo Roxane together. Christian is handsome, and Cyrano lends him his eloquence.

Scene 2: Square in front of Roxane's house, dusk

Roxane is talking with her governess. The two are about to leave for a lecture on love. De Guiche appears to say goodbye to Roxane. He has to go to war that very evening, as the city of Arras is under siege. He has been appointed colonel of the Guards regiment, in which Cyrano and Christian also serve. For him, this is the perfect opportunity to take revenge on Cyrano. Roxane deceives De Guiche into believing she is on his side. She claims that it would be a far greater punishment for Cyrano if he were not allowed to participate in the fighting. Through this ruse, she manages to persuade De Guiche to exempt the cadet company (and Christian) from the war.

After De Guiche leaves, Cyrano arrives. He learns from Roxane that she intends to ask Christian to improvise on love during their rendezvous. Roxane and her governess retire to the house. Cyrano summons the already waiting Christian to prepare him for his task. However, Christian is determined to speak with Roxane without Cyrano's assistance. She emerges from the house with the governess, who bids him farewell, regretting that they have missed the lecture. Roxane calls Christian to her and demands that he speak about love. His unimaginative answers disappoint her so much that she dismisses him. Christian has no choice but to ask Cyrano for help. The two stand beneath her balcony and call out to her. Cyrano hides in the shadows. At first, Cyrano prompts Christian with the poetic declarations of love. When this proves too tedious, he continues himself, using a disguised voice. Roxane is so thrilled that she lets Christian climb onto her balcony to hug and kiss him.

Siege of Arras, Cadets' Camp, 1640

Despite De Guiche's assurances, the cadets were transferred to the French-besieged city of Arras, where they held an outpost. Meanwhile, Spanish troops had arrived and were cutting off the besiegers' supplies. While the soldiers slept, Cyrano sneaked through the enemy lines each morning to deliver letters supposedly from Christian to Roxane. To distract his comrades from their hunger, he asked an old shepherd to play familiar tunes on his flute. A signal announced De Guiche's arrival. When he boasted of his bravery under enemy musket fire, Cyrano pointed out that he had lost his white sash. De Guiche explained that he had deliberately dropped it to deceive the enemy. Cyrano then produced the sash. He had brought it back himself from his last excursion. De Guiche informs his men that a Spanish attack is imminent. While everyone prepares, Christian asks Cyrano to write a farewell letter to Roxane, just in case. Cyrano has already done so. Christian notices the remnants of a tear on the letter. Cyrano also admits to having written her two letters every day. Just then, a carriage arrives. Roxane herself has broken through the besiegers' lines, persuading them to let her through with the words, "I am visiting my beloved." Since she cannot be persuaded to leave the camp despite the impending danger, Carbon asks her for her neckerchief, which he intends to use as a flag during the battle. Ragueneau also gets out of the carriage. He has brought plenty of provisions, and everyone celebrates one last time before the battle. Roxane explains to Christian that his letters impressed her so deeply that she absolutely had to see him again. Outward beauty no longer interests her, only his soul. Christian sends her to the cadets so they can have one last smile before their possible deaths. He now knows Cyrano's true feelings for Roxane and urges him to confess them so she can choose between them. When Roxane returns, she swears to Cyrano that she would love Christian even if his appearance were repulsive and grotesque. Just as Cyrano begins to feel hopeful, the battle begins. Christian falls at the very start. Roxane throws herself, sobbing, over his body and finds the suicide note. In the distance, the battle rages on.

The park of the Convent of the Sisters of the Cross in Paris, 15 years later, 1655

Grief-stricken over Christian's death, Roxane has retreated to a convent. De Guiche visits Roxane, who has since forgiven him. She tells him that Cyrano also comes frequently. Le Bret arrives and reports that Cyrano is growing increasingly bitter and is constantly making new enemies with his scathing writings. As Roxane escorts De Guiche out, Ragueneau appears and whispers something to Le Bret. The two hurry away. Somewhat late and looking exhausted, Cyrano arrives for the appointed visit and begins to tell Roxane the news of the past week. He explains a brief fainting spell with his old wound from Arras. Then he asks if he may see Christian's last letter once more. He reads it aloud and so movingly that Roxane recognizes the truth: They are Cyrano's own words, and he has always loved her. Le Bret and Ragueneau return, horrified to find Cyrano there. Cyrano then finishes his chronicle: "And on Saturday the 26th, an hour before dinner, Monsieur de Bergerac died by an assassin's hand." Ragueneau explains that he was attacked from behind with a piece of wood. Roxane finally recognizes her love for Cyrano. But it is too late. He collapses, dying. In his last words, he insists that although fame and love were denied him, at least he still has his courage.

• Opera d'Oro, a division of Allegro Corporation (OPD 1411): William Johns, Olivia Stapp, Ezio di Cesare; Maurizio Arena, conductor; recorded in Turin 1975
• CPO 5210620: Manuela Uhl, Jennifer Arnold, Susanna Bernhard, Roman Sadnik, Wolfgang Newerla, Simon Pauly, Paul McNamara, Matthias Klein, Bernd Gebhardt, Konstantin Heintel; Chorus of Kiel Opera; Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra; Markus L. Frank, conductor (2002)
• Deutsche Grammophon 4688259 (DVD): Roberto Alagna, Nathalie Manfrino, Richard Troxell, Nicolas Rivenq, Marc Barrard, Jaël Azzaretti; Orchestre National de Montpellier; Marco Guidarini, conductor (2003)
• Live broadcast from the Met (not commercially released, available from archive.org): Radvanovsky/Barasorda/Very/Michaels-Moore/de Candia; in New York; Armiliato, conductor (2006): part 1, part 2
• Naxos (BD and DVD): Plácido Domingo (Cyrano), Sondra Radvanovsky (Roxane), Arturo Chacón Cruz (Christian), Rod Gilfry (De Guiche), Corrado Carmelo Caruso (Ragueneau), Roberto Accurso (De Valvert), Javier Franco (Carbon), Itxaro Mentxaka (La Duègne / Sister Marthe) & Nahuel di Pierro (Le Bret); Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana & Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana, Patrick Fournillier (conductor) (filmed 2007, released 2011)^[12]