Notre Dame

by Franz Schmidt (1874 - 1939)
Romantic opera in two acts (Text: Leopold Wilk, Franz Schmidt, after Victor Hugo).

CHORUS OF ST.-HEDWIGS-KATHEDRALE Chorus Master: ROLAND BADER
RIAS-KAMMERCHOR Chorus Master: MARCUS CREED
ANDREAS JUFFINGER, Organ
RADIO-SYMPHONIE-ORCHESTER BERLIN
Conductor: CHRISTOF PERICK

Act I

An officer warns Captain Phoebus against falling in love with Esmeralda, the gypsy girl. However, when she appears shortly thereafter with a gypsy caravan, Phoebus covets her without regard for her being married. Before the much-loved street singer Esmeralda can even begin her performance, a tumult breaks out around Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame. The beautiful gypsy girl saves the hunchback from the enraged crowd. Taking advantage of the confusion, Phoebus convinces Esmeralda to come to a rendezvous that night, without noticing that Esmeralda's husband Gringoire is eavesdropping.

Gringoire's jealousy is further reinforced by his former teacher, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame.

Gringoire waylays Phoebus at the rendezvous, stabs him, and jumps out the window.

Act II

Esmeralda, who has falsely been convicted of murder and sentenced to death, is visited in prison by the Archdeacon. He is also passionately in love with the gypsy girl. To keep his priestly conscience pure, he nonetheless abandons her to her fate.

Esmeralda is brought out onto the square in front of Notre Dame to be executed. Just before the execution, the hunchbacked bell-ringer knocks down the executioners and leads Esmeralda into the cathedral.

They are later cornered by the Archdeacon and guards on the platform between the two bell-towers. They again lead Esmeralda off to be executed. Quasimodo is overcome by blind anger and pushes the Archdeacon, his former benefactor, into the depths of hell.