Edgar,tenor
Fidelia, soprano
Frank, Fidelia's brother, baritone
Gualtiero, father of Fidelia & Frank, baritone
Peasant women and men, soldiers, monks, people, boys.

Time and place : Flanders in the 14th century.

Puccini's second opera; was first performed 21 April 1889 at La Scala Milan, not very successfully and was revised and staged again at Lucca in a four act version in 1890. After further revisions it was staged again in a three act version in Madrid in 1892. A further revision saw it staged in the 'final' version in Buenos Aires in 1905 and afterwards was rarely performed.

ACT ONE

The inhabitants of a village near Courtray start their day's work one bright spring morning, leaving Edgar fast asleep outside the village inn. He is awakened by Fidelia, who loves him, but before they can exchange more than a few friendly words, they are interrupted by Tigrana, an orphan abandoned in the village by itinerant Moors. She mocks the young man's affection for the innocent Fidelia and reminds him of their dreams of a life of debauchery beyond the confines of the village. Edgar resists her temptations. Fidelia's brother, Frank, arrives and reproaches Tigrana for standing him up. Arrogantly, she puts the lovelorn Frank in his place. Left alone, Frank admits in his despair that he has no defence against the humiliating love that he feels for Tigrana. The villagers pray in church, while Tigrana sings a provocative song outside. Outraged, the villagers, already offended by her licentious llfestyle, prepare to drive her from the village, but Edgar stands up for her and declares that he will leave the village for good, taking Tigrana with him. Beside himself with anger, he sets fire to his house and makes ready to leave with Tigrana, but Frank bars their way. The two men fight, and Frank is injured. Cursed by Frank and the villagers, Tigrana flees with Edgar.

ACT TWO

On a mild summer's evening, guests at Edgar's castle enjoy the pleasures of life. He comes out on to the terrace that leads down to an elegant park. He is restless and tired of a life of debauchery. Wistfully he recalls the spring morning when he met Fidelia. Tigrana enters and immediately notices his sombre mood. She is afraid that he no longer loves her. Threateningly, she makes it clear to him that he has lost everything and that for better or worse they are shackled together. In disgust he rejects her promise of new delights in love. A troop of soldiers passes. On a whim, Edgar invites them in for a drink and is surprised to discover that their captain is none other than Frank. Edgar asks Frank to forgive him for any injuries he may have inflicted. Frank declares that the injury that he sustained on that earlier occasion has cured him of his ill-fated love. Tigrana realizes that Edgar is slipping away from her. Suddenly Edgar announces his decision to join the army and fight alongside his former antagonist in the hope of redeeming his sins. Ignoring Tigrana's protestations of love, he leaves with the soldiers to fight for his country.

ACT THREE

The Third and final act opens on the battlements of a fortress near Courtray, where a military funeral is in progress for Edgar, who has saved his country and whom the local populace now halls as a hero. To one side stand Frank and a monk with his cowl drawn low over his face. Moved, Fidelia takes her leave of Edgar. The monk interrupts Frank's funeral oration by drawing attention to Edgar's earlier crimes. The mood of the crowd turns abruptly to hatred, but Fidelia succeeds in defending Edgar. Once the mourners have left, Tigrana enters in order to pray beside Edgar's bier. Frank and the monk - in whom the audience has by now recognized Edgar - decide to test Tigrana's feelings. In turn they offer her the most valuable jewels in an attempt to persuade her to denounce Edgar. After hesitating for some time, she agrees. Frank and Edgar summon the soldiers. In the presence of the townsfolk and all the soldiers, the monk - Edgar - induces Tigrana to tell them that she was once Edgar's lover, a claim intended to validate his earlier accusations. She even confirms the lie that he had wanted to betray his country. Consumed by hatred of the apparent traitor, the soldiers throw themselves upon the body in order to feed it to the ravens, but all they find is an empty suit of armour, Edgar reveals his true identity, and Fidelia rushes into his arms. He renounces lust, fame and empty baubles. He and Fidelia pass through the crowd, but as they do so, Tigrana, who has earlier been chased away in disgrace, slips up to them and stabs Fidelia. General horror culminates in a call for the murderess to be put to death.