大象传媒

Act I

In the park of Woodstock Castle, groups of farmers gather to celebrate the return of King Henry II from the wars in Ireland. Queen Leonora enters followed by Arturo, a page of the King: the young man has been protected by Leonora since he was orphaned as a child and consequently feels indebted to her. Because of these feelings he has told her a dark secret: Enrico has a mistress who, upon his departure, appointed Arturo to protect her. Leonora realized that the page has fallen in love with the young woman; she promises that if he remains loyal to her she will help him to win her, but needs his help to revenge her rival.

听

Leonora and Arturo leave while the peasants return praising Henry. Tired of war, the king looks forward joyfully to seeing his beloved. Clifford, his elderly tutor, approaches, having returned from a mission in France on behalf of the king. The meeting is embarrassing to Henry: his lover is in fact Rosmonda, the daughter of Clifford, who is unaware of the relationship. He has learned that Henry has abandoned Leonora for an unknown mistress and, because of his old bond with the sovereign, feels it is his duty to rebuke him for this guilty love. He demands to see this mysterious woman to persuade her to dissolve this scandalous relationship. Henry openly confesses his love, but, pressed by Clifford, agrees to the meeting.

听

He begs him to be guided by compassion, and assures him that once he knows the identity of the woman, he will be happy to see her on the throne of England. Rosmonda is alone in the castle tower and regrets the long months of absence of her lover, who told her his name is Edegardo without revealing that he is the king. In her long soliloquy she is torn between her love and remorse for having abandoned the path of virtue. Arturo arrives and announces the return of her lover, but adds that he cannot come right away, because he is busy with the king. Instead an elderly knight has been permitted by Edegardo to meet her: when she learns that it is Clifford, Rosmonda is terrified and confesses to a stunned Arturo that the old gentleman is her father. The interview becomes stormy as Clifford criticizes her harshly for having stained the family honor by her disgraceful conduct: there is no choice for her but to retire to a convent to atone for her sins. Rosmonda tries to defend herself by saying that Edegardo has sworn to be faithful, but when her father reveals that her lover is the king, the girl is overcome with remorse and bursts into tears. Moved by the repentance and sincere sorrow of his daughter, Clifford seems willing to forgive her. Henry calls to Rosmonda from outside but in the throes of distress and agitation, she faints.

听

The King enters and is confronted angrily by Clifford, but he is distressed when Rosmonda abruptly tells him to go back to Leonora. Henry replies: she will be his bride and queen, but the young woman refuses indignantly and her father embraces her in support. The king tries to object but to everyone鈥檚 surprise, Leonora appears, accompanied by the entire court, and finally sees the face of her rival. She pretends to be surprised at the confusion caused by her arrival, which manifests itself in the different moods of those present: the King and Rosmonda fear the hatred that animates Leonora while Clifford sees a possibility of salvation for his daughter and begs the queen to take her under her protection. Leonora agrees, but Henry, who understands her true intentions, intervenes and brutally declares that Leonora鈥檚 reign is over and orders her to return to Aquitaine. He threatens anyone who dares to oppose his will, while the queen meditates revenge and Rosmonda is horrified by the terrible consequences of her love.

听

Act II

In the great hall of Woodstock Castle, Enrico鈥檚 counselors try to convince him not to banish Leonora, but if he must they will give their consent. The King is adamant: Leonora is a greater danger for him in England that in her country Aquitaine, and orders her to be sent to France the next day. The queen enters determined to claim her rights, first reproaching Henry that he became King only thanks to her decisive help, then trying to rekindle the old flame of love. But the king counters that she has only acted out of ambition, and that an 鈥渋nsurmountable barrier鈥� now stands between them: she must therefore return to Aquitaine. The encounter ends between mutual accusations and threats of revenge.

听

Arturo, alone in the castle tower expresses his love for Rosmonda, but being only a page, is afraid he could never compete with his sovereign. He understands that he let himself be pulled into the intrigues of the queen, but has no alternative: his debt of gratitude to her is too great and there is no time for second thoughts. Someone knocks at the secret door and, believing it to be the queen, Arturo goes to open it: instead Clifford appears and has come to order Rosmonda to leave England immediately. Arturo will accompany her to Aquitaine and there they will marry. Rosmonda agrees to leave Enrico, but can not accept the idea of a marriage. Pressed by Clifford and Arturo, she is finally persuaded and submits to the will of her father, knowing that her youth will be consumed in sorrow.

听

Henry arrives and again declares his love: the members of the council have agreed that she will be his bride and queen. He reminds her of her pledge of love to Edegardo and begs her to keep her promises. But Rosmonda refuses: she will never be Queen; Enrico is already married to Leonora, and she has sworn to leave him forever. In Woodstock garden Leonora鈥檚 followers are hidden, waiting for Rosmonda to ensure that she departs with Arturo. Rosmonda arrives and but cannot find Arturo: troubled, she fears that the king has discovered her intentions to escape and has constrained the page. Someone approaches; it is not Arturo, but the queen. Leonora accuses Rosmonda of betraying her, revealing her plans of escape to the king, proven by the many royal guards near the garden, and threatens to kill her. Rosmonda pleads her innocence: she will abandon England forever to obey the wishes of her father but also to respect the rights of Leonora, sacrificing love, peace and the promise of a kingdom. Leonora seems convinced, when her followers return to inform her that Henry is approaching with his guards. Convinced of the betrayal of her rival, the queen pierces Rosmonda with a sword. When Henry, Clifford and Arturo arrive, the young woman dies in their arms.