Fra Diavolo

Daniel-François-Esprit Auber. Opéra comique in three acts. 1830. Libretto by Eugène Scribe. First performance by the Paris Opéra Comique at the Salle Ventadour on 28th January 1830.

The carabinieri are in search of the bandit Fra Diavolo, who appears disguised as the Marquis de San Marco. Zerline, bidden by her father to marry annother, is loved by Lorenzo, commander of the forces of order, who succeeds in killing some of the bandits and restoring stolen jewellery to two English travellers, Lord Kokbourg and Lady Pamela. Fra Diavolo plans revenge and with two of his followers goes through Zerline's room to that of the English couple, intending to rob them and have Zerline killed. Lorenzo's appearance forces him to plead a secret assignation, the cause of jealousy in both Lorenzo and Lord Kokbourg. Fra Diavolo tells his men to ring the church bell when the carabinieri have gone. Learning of this plan, Lorenzo arranges to have the bell rung and Fra Diavolo is captured.

One of the few operas by Auber to remain in current repertoire, Fra Diavolo, ou L'hôtellerie de Terracine (Fra Diavolo, or The Inn of Terracina) has an overture that may also be heard in the concert-hall, while the tenor Fra Diavolo is provided with an impressive aria in Je vois marcher sous ma bannière (I see march under my banner).