LE ROI, D'YS: THE KING OF YS

ÉDOUARD LALO: (born 27 January 1823, died 22 April 1892)

Opera in three acts, text by Edouard Blau. Première at the 0péra-Comique, Paris, 7 May 1888.

The story is founded upon a Breton legend. The impressive overture uses themes from the opera, prominent among them the duet 'En silence pourquoi souffrir?', which occurs as a cello solo, and Margared's aria in the second act.

Act 1.

Outside the palace of Ys. The people rejoice that the war in which they have recently been engaged is at an end, and that peace has been brought to them through the betrothal of the King's daughter Margared to the enemy leader, Karnac. As the crowd leaves the stage, the two sisters appear. Rozenn asks why her looks are sad on the day on which her engagement is announced: 'En silence pourquoi souffrir?' At first Margared will not share her grief with anyone but eventually she admits that her heart was given to a man, and that man was in the ship sailed the soldier Mylio, whom nobody has seen since the cessation of hostilities. She hates Karnac with a double loathing; he takes her away from the man she loves, and he is the enemy of her country. Rozenn tries to comfort her: she must lose no time in admitting her repugnance for Karnac, before it is too late and the marriage contract is signed and sealed.

Alone, Rozenn in an aria avows her own love for Mylio himself. He appears suddenly at her side and they pledge eternal faith to each other. Mylio disappears, and the King leads out Margared to meet Karnac, who appears with his followers. The people rejoice at the marriage which will put an end to their sufferings. During the course of the ceremony, Rozenn whispers to Margared that not only has Mylio returned she has seen him but his companions too, and among them must be the man for whom Margared languishes. Margared turns impulsively to her father, and repudiates Karnac; she says she cannot marry a man she does not love The general consternation grows when Karnac pledges himself in revenge to carry the war through until Ys is totally destroyed. But at this moment, Mylio pushes his way through the crowd and swears to fight for Ys until the war is brought to a victorious conclusion. The people acclaim their champion.

Act II

The great hall of the palace. Margared looks from the window at Karnac's troops assembling on the plain below. Mylio will lead of armies of Ys, and Margared is filled with turbulent feelings on his account, which she expresses in a fine aria: 'Lorsque je t'ai vu soudain'. She suspects that Mylio loves Rozenn; if it is so, her love for her sister and Mylio would turn to implacable hate.

No sooner are the words out of her mouth than Rozenn and the King enter with Mylio. Margared hides and hears Mylio reassure Rozenn Saint Corentin has blessed the battle on which he is embarking and, a moment later, her sister prolclaims her love for the valiant general. The King gives his blessing to them, and then leaves with Mylio. Margared confronts Rozenn as her rival for the love of Mylio. May he die rather than be united with Rozenn!

Rozenn is horror stricken at her sister's words and tries to defend herself; were she in Margared's place, her heart might break, but she would not give way to hate: 'Tais-toi, Margared!' (Be silent, Margared!) But Margared is not to be appeased; she curses her sister and vows vengeance on her for having stolen Mylio.

The scene changes to the great plain in front of the castle of Ys. Mylio is proclaimed victorious, but ascribes the enemy's defeat to the intervention of Saint Corentin, the patron saint of Ys. The stage empties and Karnac appears, dishevelled and worn after his unsuccessful fight. Margared stands before him and offers him revenge for his defeat; she will, with his help, open the floodgates and let in the sea to drown the town. As they go off together past the chapel of Saint Corentin, Margared challenges the Saint to avert the disaster she will bring on Ys. The sky darkens, the statue of the Saint comes to life and calls on her to repent.

Act III

A gallery in the palace. On one side is the door to Rozenn's apartments. In accordance with Breton marriage custom, it is protected by young girls against the efforts of the friends of the bridegroom to force an entrance. Mylio himself joins his retainers and pleads his own cause. He sings the famous Aubade, 'Vainement, ma bien aimée', a tune of delicious fragrance, accompanied by the female chorus. It accomplishes its purpose, and Rozenn to a Breton tune says she will grant his request. The procession forms up, and makes its way into the chapel opposite. As the sound of the Te Deum can be heard from the chapel, Margared and Karnac make their way into the castle. Karnac demands that Margared fulfil her promise, and when she seems reluctant to bring disaster on her relations and her countrymen, he taunts her until she is mad with jealousy.

Karnac and Margared leave together, and Mylio and Rozenn emerge from the ceremony, and sing of their love 'A l'autel j'allais rayonnant'. Margared reappears and overhears Rozenn and her father pray for her return. She is overcome with remorse and, when cries of alarm are heard outside, hastens forward to warn them of their impending fate. She tells them that Karnac has thrown open the gates which keep the sea from drowning the city, but that she herself has killed him for his deed.

The scene changes to the highest point of the city, where the people have taken refuge to escape the fate which threatens them all. The noise of the angry sea can be heard, and the crowd prays for deliverance from death. The water still mounts, and the King laments that half the city has already disappeared, carrying away most of his subjects. Suddenly Margared, as if in a trance, reflects that the waters will not recede until they have claimed the required victim. She herself is that victim, she opened the gates; she will die in expiation of her crime. She throws herself into the sea, which immediately grows calmer, and the people thank Saint Corentin for their deliverance.

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Edouard Lalo
1823 - 1892.