Francesca di Foix

by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848).
Opera semiseria in one act
First performed: Naples, at the Teatro San Carlo, 30 May 1831.
Librettist: Domenico Gilardoni
Source: a French farce, Ninette à la cour by Favert and Saint-Amans

Scene 1

In a spot set-aside for hunting, close to the Palace of the Louvre, peasants are gathered to greet their King. The Duke and the Page, Edmondo, also appear, for it is here that they hope to meet Francesca, the Countess of Foix, Edmondo's cousin. The Count, her husband, has proved so jealous and possessive that he has been holding her a virtual prisoner. Shut away from the world, but the King, the Duke and Edmondo have concocted a plot to release her. They have managed to duplicate the Count's ring, briefly removed from his hand while he was asleep. and have sent her the duplicate in her husband's name, instructing her to come to court. Edmondo insists that she is a model of beauty and winning ways, even though the Count, to avoid having to present her at court, has given out that she is ill-favoured, misshapen and coarse, 'uglier than any harpy'.

The Count, recently appointed Master of the King's Hunt, rejoices in his demanding duties. but laments that they necessitate his leaving his wife at home on her own - a cause for concern in a world in which he believes the worst of all his fellow men.

The King acknowledges the acclamations of his subjects and flatters the Count, assuring him that a propitious day is dawning for him. He then dismisses the peasants and returns to the Palace, but not before whispering to the Duke that, the moment Francesca appears, he should conduct her to court and place her in the care of his sister. The Count departs to attend to his duties, and the Duke and Edmondo mount a nearby hill to see if there is any sign of Francesca's approach.

Francesca has, in fact, arrived by a different route. She makes her entry, rejoicing in her newfound liberty but mystified that her jealous husband should so unexpectedly have changed his mind and summoned her to join him.

The Duke and Edmondo, returning, greet her. Edmondo goes to inform the King of her arrival, and the Duke admits that it was the Page and the King who sent her the ring, not her husband. He is unable to explain further, since it is the King who has masterminded the plot and who alone knows its details. Francesca is in two minds whether to stay or whether to return to her prison, but when she hears that her husband has reported her 'a silly goose, a yokel, and mannerless... foul and lame', she is quite sufficiently piqued to be eager for revenge.

Before they can proceed to court the Count returns. Francesca hastily covers her face with a veil and is presented to him as the Baroness of Linsberg; the Duke's widowed cousin who has arrived from England. Although her stature and voice arouse the Count's suspicions, he can only hope that he will have an opportunity of ascertaining her true identity at court, whither they all depart.

Secene 2

In the royal apartments in the Louvre, the courtiers try to sift the Page for information concerning the mysterious new arrival, but Edmondo parries their enquires, declaring only that it is the King's intention to amuse himself. He is also tackled by the Count, frustrated since he has had no chance of seeing the lady's face, even though he grows ever more suspicious that she is really his wife.

The King instructs Edmondo to inform the lady that he wishes to make her acquaintance and conduct her to a tournament, which is about to take place. She appears, with both the King and the Count vying with each other - for different reasons -to behold her. It is a moment of supreme - and supremely comic - climax. The King takes delight in presenting Francesca, with exaggerated courtesy, to the Count. She plays up to the situation, commiserating with the Count that his wife should be 'oppressed in years... a compendium of all ills', and graciously inquiring after her health. The Count himself writhes in agony, recognising her yet unable, after all he has said, to claim her as his wife.

A trumpet call announces the Tournament. The King asks the Countess to accept the task of presenting his sword to the victor. She, in turn, seeks to mollify her husband - or perhaps to goad him still further - by exhorting him to contest the prize and prove himself first in the field. And he can only regret that advancing age precludes the possibility of his fulfilling her wishes. All depart except for the Duke, who lingers a moment to admit that he would probably be just as jealous as the Count, were he himself blessed with such a wife.

Scene 3

The tournament ground outside the Louvre, where the jousting has just concluded. While all comment on Francesca's charm and beauty, Edmondo continues to taunt the Count who, tortured and miserable since he no longer has any doubts regarding her identity, wonders whether he will ever succeed in recovering her.

Francesca asks the identity of the unknown knight who has won the tournament, and it is revealed that it is none other than the King himself She girds him with the victor's sword, and he, in turn, expresses a wish to see her joined in marriage with someone who has long admired her: the Duke.

She consents, but only upon condition that he will not prove as jealous as her previous husband, whom she describes as deceased. As the King gives them his blessing and is about to unite them, it all becomes too much for the Count, who protests that the lady is his wife. He is obliged to eat humble pie, and confess that all he has said about her was a lie. The Page explains the mystery of the duplicated ring, and the opera ends upon a note of celebration as all hope that the Count has learned his lesson and will, in future, show the fair sex greater respect and prove less jealous and severe.