Il Trovatore, by Verdi

Date: Sunday, March 14 at 2:45pm
Tickets: $20
Run Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes with 1 intermission
Language: In Italian with English Subtitles
Location: Mountain Cinema in the Doctorow Center for the Arts, Rte. 23A, Village of Hunter, NY
Information: 518-263-2002 (recorded information) or 518-263-4702 (during hours of operation)

In 15th century Spain, Ferrando, the Count di Luna's captain of the guard, recounts how di Luna's infant son fell ill after a Gypsy woman was found peering into his cradle. The Gypsy was condemned to death, for which her daughter Azucena abducted di Luna's younger child in revenge. The count ordered a search "without end" for the child, a mission that was maintained after his death by his son, the present Count di Luna. Meanwhile, the Duchess Leonora falls deeply in love with the warrior troubadour Manrico, the son of Azucena. When the Count di Luna attempts to seduce the duchess, Manrico comes to her rescue and challenges the count to a duel. Manrico wins, but spares the count's life. Manrico flees to the Gypsy camp, where he finds out that he is not, in fact the natural-born child of Azucena. A messenger arrives and informs Manrico that Leonora is to enter a convent, since she believes him to be dead. The count and his followers sneak into the convent to abduct Leonora. At the last minute, Manrico makes a heroic entrance, saving her from di Luna's evil clutches. Looking for Manrico, di Luna's guards arrest Azucena, and di Luna later orders her to be tortured and burned. Manrico rushes to save her, but is instead defeated and arrested. Leonora offers herself to di Luna to save Manrico's life, but takes poison instead. di Luna orders Manrico's immediate execution. Looking on the scene from her prison cell, Azucena informs di Luna that he has just killed his own brother, the boy she kidnapped in retribution for her mother's death.