大象传媒

Rossini's comic opera Le Comte Ory in a performance first broadcast in February 2013 from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Count Ory is determined to win the countess Adele, and will do anything to get access to the castle where the women are, including disguising himself and his men as nuns. Rossini's sparkling comedy stars tenor Juan Diego Florez as the count, Pretty Yende as Adele and Karine Deshayes in the trouser role of Isolier.

Presented by Mary-Jo Heath with commentator Ira Siff.
Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Countess Adele ..... Pretty Yende (soprano)
Isolier ..... Karine Deshayes (mezzo-soprano)
Ragonde ..... Susanne Resmark (mezzo-soprano)
Count Ory ..... Juan Diego Florez (tenor)
Raimbaud ..... Nathan Gunn (baritone)
The Tutor ..... Nicola Ulivieri (baritone)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
Maurizio Benini, conductor

Synopsis
ACT I
France, around 1200. The Count of Formoutiers and most of the men have left for the Holy Land to fight in the Crusades, leaving behind the count鈥檚 sister, Ad猫le, and her companion Ragonde. The young Count Ory, who is trying to win the countess, is resolved to take advantage of the situation. With the help of his friend Raimbaud, he has disguised himself as a hermit and taken up residence outside the castle gates. Village girls and peasants gather to get the holy man鈥檚 advice on matters of the heart. Ory blesses them and promises to make all their wishes come true. Among the crowd is Ragonde. She tells Ory that, in the men鈥檚 absence, the ladies of the castle have taken a vow to live as widows, but that the Countess Ad猫le, who is suffering from a strange melancholy, will come to consult him. Ory is overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her.

Ory鈥檚 page Isolier arrives with Ory鈥檚 tutor, who is looking for his charge (鈥淰eiller sans cesse鈥�). The tutor is suspicious about the hermit鈥檚 identity and leaves to summon reinforcements. Isolier however, who does not recognize his master, confides to the 鈥渉ermit鈥� that he is in love with the countess and that he has a plan to enter the castle: he will disguise himself as a pilgrim (Duet: 鈥淯ne dame de haut parage鈥�). Ory, impressed by the idea, agrees to help but secretly resolves to use the plan for his own ends.

The countess appears, lamenting her melancholy (鈥淓n proie 脿 la tristesse鈥�). To her astonishment, Ory prescribes a love affair to cure her, which leads her to confess her feelings for Isolier. But the 鈥渉ermit鈥� warns her not to get involved with the page of the libertine Ory. Thankful for his advice, the countess invites Ory to the castle. They are about to leave when Ory鈥檚 tutor returns and unmasks him鈥攖o the collective horror of Isolier, the countess, and the other ladies. When news arrives that the Crusaders are expected back in two days, Ory resolves to stage another assault on the castle before their return.

ACT II
At the castle that evening, the women angrily discuss Ory鈥檚 plot. A storm breaks and cries for help are heard from outside from a group of pilgrim women who claim that Ory is pursuing them. They are in fact the count and his men, disguised as nuns. The countess lets them in and one of them asks to express their gratitude. It is Ory, who, when left alone with the countess, is barely able to contain his feelings (Duet: 鈥淎h! quel respect, Madame鈥�). The countess orders a simple meal for the guests and leaves. Raimbaud, who has discovered the castle鈥檚 wine cellar, enters with enough to drink for everybody (鈥淒ans ce lieu solitaire鈥�). The men鈥檚 carousing gives way to pious chanting as soon as Ragonde comes within earshot.

Isolier informs the countess that the Crusaders will return that night. When Ragonde offers to tell their guests, Isolier realizes who they are and decides to play a joke on Ory. He extinguishes the lamp in the countess鈥檚 bedroom as Ory approaches to pay her an unexpected visit. Misled by the countess鈥檚 voice, Ory makes his advances towards Isolier (Trio: 鈥溍� la faveur de cette nuit obscure鈥�). When trumpets announce the return of the Crusaders, Isolier reveals his identity and Ory is left with no choice but to make his escape.