Join us Saturday at noon for a live broadcast of L'Amour de Loin — the breakthrough opera by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, being heard for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera.
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
Jaufre Rudel, Prince of Blaye, is tired of the life of pleasure led by the young people of his rank. He yearns for a different, distant love, but he is resigned to the idea that he will never find it. A chorus of his old companions reproaches him for the change and makes fun of him. He tells them that the woman of whom he sings doesn't exist. Then, a Pilgrim who has arrived from overseas asserts that there is such a woman, and that he has met her. Jaufre can no longer think of anything but her.
ACT II
Returning to the East, the Pilgrim meets the Countess of Tripoli and admits to her that in the West, a prince-troubadour celebrates her in his songs, calling her his "love from afar." Offended at first, she later begins to dream of this strange and distant lover, but she also asks herself whether she merits such devotion.
ACT III
Returning to Blaye, the Pilgrim meets Jaufre and admits to him that the lady now knows that he sings of her. At this, the troubadour resolves to visit her in person. Clemence, for her part, seems to prefer that their relationship remain distant. She doesn't want to live in anticipation, and she doesn't want to suffer.
ACT IV
Having embarked across the sea, Jaufre is impatient to find his "love from afar," but at the same time he dreads their meeting. He regrets having set off on impulse, and his anguish is such that he falls ill and becomes more and more unwell the nearer he gets to Tripoli. He arrives there dying...
ACT V
When the ship lands, the Pilgrim goes ahead to warn Clemence that Jaufre is there, but that he is on the point of death and is asking to see her. The troubadour arrives at the Tripolis citadel unconscious, carried on a stretcher. In the presence of the woman of whom he sang, he revives little by little. Thus the two "lovers from afar" meet, and with tragedy approaching they throw caution to the winds. They declare their passion, embrace, and promise to love each other... When Jaufre dies in her arms, Clemence rails against Heaven; then, believing herself to blame for the disaster which has just taken place, decides to enter a convent. In the last scene we see her at prayer, but her words are ambiguous, and we do not know exactly to whom she prays on her knees--her distant God, or her "love from afar."
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
