SYNOPSIS

Act One

CD 1

[1] A green room at the Comédie–Française‚ early in the year 1730. Four of the players are busily preparing for the evening’s double bill of Racine’s tragedy Bajazet and Regnard’s comedy Les Folies amoureuses‚ quarrelling among themselves and shouting orders to the harassed stage manager‚ Michonnet. They quieten down on the entrance of the Prince of Bouillon‚ the elderly protector of the actress Mlle Duclos‚ with his servile follower the Abbé of Chazeuil. They comment on the packed house waiting to see the company’s two leading ladies‚ Mlle Duclos and Adriana Lecouvreur. [2] When the latter comes in‚ trying over one of her speeches‚ she rejects the exaggerated flattery offered her by declaring she is only the servant of the arts‚ the “accent on the verse ”. She then pays an unexpected compliment to Michonnet‚ saying he is her only true friend and her only wise adviser on her work. The Prince asks what Mlle Duclos is doing‚ to which Michonnet replies that she is busy writing a note in her dressing–room. The Prince sends the Abbé to find out the contents of this letter‚ using bribery if necessary.

[3] For a moment Adriana and Michonnet are left alone. Too shy to reveal his love for her‚ Michonnet tells her he has been left a legacy and is thinking of marriage. When she appears to approve of the idea he decides to propose to her‚ but she suddenly confides that she also is in love – with a young soldier‚ Maurizio‚ in the service of the Count of Saxony. [4] Michonnet’s embarrassment is cut short by the arrival of Maurizio himself. Adriana questions him about his chances of promotion‚ but he replies evasively by warning her not to try to use her influence with the Count of Saxony‚ whom she is hoping to meet on his behalf. They are unable to talk further because it is time for her to go on stage‚ so she agrees to meet him after the performance and gives him a bunch of violets as a keepsake.
[5] The Prince and the Abbé now return with Mlle Duclos’s letter. This turns out to be an invitation from the actress to another of her admirers‚ inviting him to meet her later that evening at the very villa where she usually meets the Prince. The latter realises the admirer must be Maurizio‚ whom he knows to be the Count of Saxony himself‚ and he determines to take his revenge by inviting the whole cast to a supper party at the villa so that Maurizio and Mlle Duclos will be caught unawares. The Prince and the Abbé arrange to have the letter delivered to Maurizio. [6] Michonnet now returns‚ placing himself where he has a good view of the stage. He comments on Adriana’s performance‚ then remembers a “property ” letter which has to be handed to her on the stage in her role of Roxane. Maurizio hurries in with the note from Mlle Duclos‚ cursing the fact that a meeting to further his political ambitions means he will not be able to see Adriana after all. [7] He sees the blank “property ” letter and has the bright idea of using it to let Adriana know he cannot keep his appointment with her. As soon as he has written his brief message he takes his leave without waiting to see what effect it will have on Adriana. In fact‚ her reaction is interpreted by Michonnet and the audience as further proof of the intensity of her acting. When she comes off the stage at the end‚ visibly upset‚ she is invited with the other players to the Prince’s supper party at the villa.

Act Two

[8] A room in a villa by the river Seine. The Princess of Bouillon is waiting impatiently for the man she loves‚ for it is she whom Mlle Duclos’s letter has invited Maurizio to meet. [10] When he arrives‚ he explains his lateness by the fact that he was followed on his way from the theatre. She points suspiciously to the violets he is carrying‚ so he gives them to her swearing he had brought them for her. The Princess then informs him she has started to win over the Queen to his cause‚ warning him at the same time that he has powerful enemies in Paris. He declares he will leave the city‚ at which she accuses him of not loving her‚ which he does not deny but refuses to name the other woman. [11] He pleads with her to accept friendship in place of love. This is hardly the most tactful suggestion for a man to make to the woman in love with him‚ but Maurizio is saved from the Princess’s jealous fury by the sound of the Prince’s arrival. The Princess takes refuge in an inner room.

[12] When the Prince and the Abbé enter they taunt Maurizio about being caught with his mistress‚ whom they believe to be Mlle Duclos‚ and are surprised when he reacts quite violently. The Prince laughs off the situation by saying Maurizio is welcome to the actress‚ for he is tired of her himself‚ and Maurizio at last understands what has happened. Adriana now arrives‚ to learn to her astonishment that Maurizio is in fact the Count of Saxony. [13] Left to themselves for a moment‚ they express their love for one another‚ but they are interrupted by Michonnet‚ who is looking for Mlle Duclos. He goes to the inner room‚ returning immediately in considerable embarrassment at finding a different woman whom he could not recognise in the darkness. Maurizio makes Adriana promise to prevent the Abbé discovering the identity of the mysterious woman‚ assuring her that it is someone he has met for purely political reasons and not those of the heart. Adriana believes him‚ so when she has dismissed the others she puts out the candles and arranges the woman’s escape in the darkness. [15] First‚ however‚ she and the Princess‚ though each unaware of the other’s identity‚ quarrel bitterly as rivals for Maurizio’s love. As the Princess finally leaves by a secret door‚ the Prince and his followers return with torches. Michonnet picks up a bracelet that the Princess had dropped in her flight and hands it to Adriana.

Act Three

CD 2

[1] A ballroom in the prince’s house. A few days later preparations are in progress for a grand reception at the Prince of Bouillon’s home. The Princess is still anxious to find out the identity of her rival and further distressed to know Maurizio has been imprisoned for debt. She shows irritation when the Abbé pays her his usual fawning attentions. The arriving guests include Adriana‚ whose voice the Princess recognises as that of her rival. She confirms her suspicion by remarking that Maurizio has been wounded in a duel‚ at which news Adriana faints – to recover a moment later when Maurizio makes his appearance. He goes at once to the Princess to thank her for having‚ as he wrongly supposes‚ secured his release from prison‚ then greets Adriana markedly more coolly. He is prevented from saying anything more to her by the Prince‚ who asks him about one of his military exploits‚ which Maueizio boastfully recalls for the entertainment of the guests.

[4] A ballet is danced on the Judgment of Paris‚ after which Adriana and the Princess engage in a bitchy battle of wits over the identity of Maurizio’s mistress. The Princess refers to a posy of violets‚ Adriana to a dropped bracelet – which she produces to the Princess’s obvious discomfort. Adriana further insults her rival when‚ asked to recite for the guests‚ she launches into a speech from Phèdre in which Phèdre reproaches herself for her infidelity and expresses terror at the thought of her imminent reunion with her husband. As the guests applaud Adriana’s spirited performance‚ the Princess swears she will take her revenge.

Act Four

[6] A sitting room in Adriana’s house on 30 March 1730. Disappointed and unhappy‚ Adriana has decided to give up the stage. [7] Michonnet comes to visit her and‚ leaming she is still asleep‚ writes a note to Maurizio which he asks the maid to have delivered as soon as possible. [8] When Adriana comes in he tries unsuccessfully to comfort her. [10] Next‚ her four friends from the Comédie arrive with gifts – it is her name–day – and beg her to return to the theatre. Then Michonnet presents his gift‚ the necklace she pawned to secure Maurizio’s release from prison. As Adriana’s spirits begin to rise the maid brings in yet another gift‚ a velvet casket with a note bearing the simple message: “from Maurizio ”. Michonnet hurries the others into an adjoining room‚ certain that Maurizio will arrive at any moment. Adriana opens the casket‚ only to find the faded bunch of violets she had given her lover at the theatre. [11] Distressed that he should now add insult to injury‚ she cries [12] that all is over. Michonnet insists there must be some mistake‚ then as Maurizio’s voice is heard outside he withdraws to join his colleagues. Adriana presses her face against the flowers.

Maurizio hurries in to beg Adriana’s forgiveness‚ explaining that spiteful gossip had been the cause of their estrangement. Adriana is suspicious at first‚ but when he finally proposes marriage she relents. Her rapture is cut short‚ however‚ by spasms of pain‚ which she blames on the smell of the flowers he has sent her. Maurizio‚ protesting that he did not send them‚ examines the casket in which they arrived: at once he realises it is the Princess who has sent them‚ having first soaked them in poison. Adriana becomes delirious‚ to the horror of Maurizio and Michonnet‚ who has hurried out to join them. Realising she is dying‚ Adriana beseeches them to save her so that she may find happiness at last with Maurizio. But too late: delirious once again‚ she imagines she is back on the stage and declaims that her spirit is flying towards a mysterious distant light. She falls lifeless into the arms of her lover and her one faithful friend.

Frank Granville Barker