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René, King of Provence bass
Robert, Duke of Burgundy baritone
Vaudemont, Count of Burgundy baritone
Ebn-Hakia, Moorish physician baritone
Almeric, squire of King René tenor
Bertrand, gatekeeper of the palace bass
Iolanthe, daughter of King René, blind soprano
Martha, Bertrand's wife, Iolanta's nurse contralto
Brigitte, Iolanthe's friend soprano
Laura, Iolanta's friend mezzo-soprano
Iolanta's servants and friends, the king's retinue,
the army of the Duke of Burgundy and squires.
The action takes place in the mountains of southern France in the 15th century.
A beautiful garden with lush vegetation. Pavilion in Gothic style. In the back is a wall with a small entrance door hidden by plants. Bushes of blooming roses on the proscenium. Fruit trees. Four musicians are playing. Iolanta collects fruits, groping for them on the trees. Brigitte, Laura and several servants offer her branches with ripe fruits. Martha holds a basket where Iolanta puts them. Her movements become slow, and finally, hanging her head, she lowers her hands.
My little bird, Iolanta, are you tired?
Are you tired? I don't know, really!
(sighing)
Yes!
Nurse, tell me...
What, dove?
I'm missing something... what?
I wish I knew.
Father, you, Martha,
(Turning in the wrong direction from where Brigitte and Laura are standing. They approach her.)
You, dear friends, all live for me.
With affection and happiness, color my life,
And I can’t repay all the love with anything!
It is our duty to serve you:
You are the mistress, we are the servants!
No, no, it's not true, you are my friends.
Oh, Martha, I want something, but what?
I do not know.
Dove, Iolanta, stop it.
Wait, wait!
Come to me, come closer!..
(Touches Martha's eyes.)
You are crying? From what?
Can I be calm when you cry?
Martha, I’m crying, but I didn’t show my tears like you did.
My voice was firm and even, you didn’t touch my eyes,
Why do you know about these tears?
(Martha and her friends are silent in embarrassment.)
No, there is something here that cannot be told to me!
Full, full!
The music upset you.
Oh yes, of course music.
(to musicians)
Enough will be!
They would have played something funny, otherwise...
No need...
(to musicians)
Thank you, my friends.
(The musicians stop.)
You played well, but... Thank you, that's enough now;
At an hour when the sun will not warm so much,
you will come to amuse me.
(The musicians leave.)
What do you want to do?
Do you want to spin or sing?
Or listen to fairy tales?
No, you don't need anything...
In fact, I'm tired.
Pick me some flowers, I'll sort them out,
And the smell of cool, tender petals,
Perhaps it will give me peace...
I spent the whole night without sleep.
(Brigitta, Laura and the servants leave.)
Are eyes really meant only for crying?
Tell me, Martha!
(with great feeling)
Why didn’t I know this before?
I have no melancholy, no grief, no tears,
And all the days passed, it happened
Among the sounds of heaven and roses?
I can barely hear the birds chirping,
A little warmth will revive the distant forest,
And rejoicing will sound everywhere, -
I joined the ceremonial choir!
And now everything reminds me during the day
An incomprehensible, deep reproach,
And reproaches fate sends
A chorus of birds and a noisy stream.
Why are the nights silent?
And did the coolness become dearer to me?
Why do I feel like I'm sobbing?
I hear where the nightingale sings,
From what? Why, tell me? From what? From what?
Tell me, Martha?
(leading Iolanta to the bed near the rose bush)
Come on, why, dear,
It's a waste of time to languish your soul!
Cry about something without knowing
The same thing as angering God.
(Laughter and exclamations of Brigitte, Laura and other girls are heard behind the stage. They run in carrying a basket full of flowers.)
Lilies, lilies of the valley, the charms of spring,
(Simultaneously.)
Touch them: how wonderfully fragrant,
Virginly fresh and clean!
Let their fragrant breath
torment, doubt and suffering
you will forget the suffering,
doubts, torment!
Touch them: how wonderfully fragrant,
Virginly fresh and clean!
Like velvety, soft,
fragrant and tender,
you will forget your doubts
and blissful dreams will drive away suffering,
doubts and torment!
Let their fragrant breath
and spring days with tender caress,
torment, doubt and suffering
will drive away the blissful, sweet dream,
and joyful peace will return!
Like velvety, fragrant,
fresh and clean, tender, soft!
Oh, what a beauty!
What a beauty!
Here are your buttercups, here are your cornflowers,
Here are mimosas, here are roses, and left-handed flowers;
Lilies, lilies of the valley, the charms of spring,
Balsamines and jasmines are full of aroma.
All sorrows will disappear into the distance,
Sweet dreams will replace sadness!
Oh flowers, oh flowers, oh spring!
The grief will disappear into the distance
joy will replace sadness.
Oh flowers, oh flowers, oh spring!
Sweet dreams will replace sadness!
Oh flowers, oh flowers, the best gift!
Brigitte, is that you?
No, I'm Laura...
(without letting go of her hand, he extends the other to Brigitte)
Thank you, my dears.
Why, why do you love me?
How can I repay you for your friendship?
Your love is the best reward!
Your love is my reward!
Where is Martha?
Listen, come here.
Let me, as before in childhood,
Bow my head on your shoulder,
And sing me a song, do you remember
That... beloved one!
(Martha makes a sign to Brigitte, Laura and the girls. One of them takes a fan and quietly blows it over Iolanta’s head.)
(addressing Brigitte and Laura)
And you sing with me!
(opening eyes)
No, they're bored!
What are you talking about? Come on, stop it!
(Iolanta falls asleep. During the song, Martha carefully lays her down on the bed and makes a sign for the servants to come in. The servants enter and carefully carry Iolanta away. The song quietly fades away as the characters leave the stage.)
Sleep, let the angels bring dreams with their wings,
Rhea is quietly between us, full of goodness.
Bye, bye, bye, bye,
Bye, bye, bye, bye, sleep
Bye, bye, sleep!
Sleep, child, a blissful sleep will fall upon you!
God, listen to a child’s prayer,
with a generous hand he will send down happiness and joy to the earth
With a generous hand, he will send down from the sky
and happiness and joy, and peace, and peace.
Sleep, sleep sweetly, oh our bright angel,
Let the angels' wings bring dreams, sweet dreams!
Rhea quietly between us the goodness is full!
Sleep, sleep sweetly, oh our bright angel!
Sleep sweetly! our radiant, bright angel!
Bye, bye, sleep!
Sleep well!
Hush, Little Baby, Do not Say a Word! Sleep! Sleep!
Sleep, child, let a blissful sleep fall on you;
God listens to a child’s prayer with a generous hand
will send down to the earth happiness and joy with a generous hand,
He will send down from heaven happiness and joy and tranquility and peace.
Sleep, sleep quietly, our radiant bright angel!
Sleep, let the angels' wings bring dreams.
Bye, bye, sleep!
Sleep, child, let a blissful sleep fall on you!
Sleep well! Hush, Little Baby, Do not Say a Word! Sleep! Sleep!
From heaven the Lord of the universe will look at you,
He will send you happiness, joy and peace,
He will send you happiness, joy and peace.
Bye, bye, bye, bye, sleep!
Sleep, child, let a blissful sleep fall on you!
Hush, Little Baby, Do not Say a Word! Sleep! Sleep!
He will send you happiness, joy and peace.
Sleep, let the angels' wings bring dreams!
From heaven the Lord of the universe will look at you!
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, sleep!
Bye, bye, sleep!
Sleep, child, let a blissful sleep fall on you!
Byushki-byu, sleep!
Sleep, child, let a blissful sleep fall on you!
Hush, Little Baby, Do not Say a Word! Sleep! Sleep!
(At a sign from Martha, the servants enter and carefully carry away the sleeping Iolanta. Brigitte, Laura, Martha and the servants leave. The signal sound of a hunting horn is heard and a knock on the gate. Bertram enters the garden.)
Calling horn... Who is this unexpected guest?
(Opens the gate. Almeric enters.)
When the king wishes to convey an order,
He sends us Raoul,
Squire, my friend.
Find out, old man: Raoul died yesterday.
Died! Oh, my poor friend, it didn’t work out
I have to say goodbye to him for the last time!
Send, Lord, peace to his soul.
But who are you?
I replaced Raul.
Here is the king's ring and here is his letter!..
I recognize the ring, it’s royal.
A letter with his stamp!
(bowing)
The entrance is open to you.
King Rene's daughter, blind Iolanta,
Bride of the Duke of Burgundy, Roberta!
Is the king's daughter blind?
She doesn't know the world!
But everyone knows that in Spain she is in a monastery
Lives with Mona Zanta Clara.
Why is this?
Is he privy to the secret of Iolanta?
Your husband revealed everything to me.
But did he say that the poor woman knows nothing
About your blindness
And that you can’t mention light in front of her,
About the beauty of everything that our eyes see.
Look, beware of also calling
Her father was a monarch, a king...
For her, he is a rich knight Rene, nothing more...
So the sovereign ordered.
His wishes are my law.
(The sounds of a calling horn can be heard in the distance.)
Calling horn! The king himself has arrived!
(He goes and opens the gate. King Rene enters, accompanied by Ebn-Hakia.)
Here is the wise doctor, where is the peaceful abode
My poor dove, Iolanta!
You know everything now.
The last hope of healing is in your hands!
But where is she? I must see her.
She now fell asleep, tired from the heat and the walk.
Well, so much the better, I can examine it more conveniently in my sleep.
Martha and Bertrand, take the doctor to our dove.
I await your decision with fear.
Allah is great, trust in him!
(Exits, accompanied by Martha, Bertrand and Almeric.)
What will he say? What vow will his science make?
Will Iolanta see the light, or am I destined for eternal torment?
To know my daughter engulfed in darkness?..
Oh, God, have mercy on me!
My Lord, if I am a sinner,
Why does a pure angel suffer?
Why did you fall because of me?
Into the darkness Are you her radiant gaze?
Give me good news
Comfort yourself with the hope of healing!
I'm ready to give for her
Crown, power, my possessions...
Deprive me of everything - peace, happiness
I will endure everything humbly,
I will bless you for everything!
Look, I'm ready to fall in dust,
To lose everything, to give everything,
But just let me not see
My child is engulfed in darkness!
Oh God, have mercy on me
I am ready to fall in dust before You,
Oh, God, my God, have mercy, have mercy on me!
(Ebn-Hakia comes down from the steps of the terrace.)
Your face is impassive, unwelcoming and secretive,
How's your science?
In vain I want to read the answer in your features.
Hope, sir, Allah is great!
Truly great and good.
Wait and let me express my decision!
Yes, sir, healing is possible,
But only...
Tell me at what cost! I will give everything that I have power over,
Just let her, oh doctor, see the light!
She must recognize her misfortune.
About blindness?! Do you vow to restore her sight?
Everything is in God's power. Science is not all-powerful;
I can't promise...
And I'm talking about the gloomy share of squalor
I have to tell her
Reveal the full depth of her misfortune,
Without expecting a good ending?
Oh, cruel Moor, there is no part in you
To the suffering of the poor father!
How deceived I was in my hope...
From now on I don't trust anyone! Goodbye!
You have the power to do everything
But first let me say:
Whether you can obey my decision or not,
But I have to give you advice.
Two worlds: carnal and spiritual
In all phenomena of life
We are conditionally separated -
Like inseparable friends.
There is no impression in the world,
That the body would know one thing,
Like everything in nature, the sense of sight
Not only is it contained.
And before you open to the light
Worldly, mortal eyes,
We need to feel this
The soul also managed to know.
When will consciousness appear?
Great truth in the mind,
Then perhaps the ruler is powerful,
Yes, then it is possible that desire
Awakens light in bodily darkness.
Oh my God!
Have I really been wrong so far?
Terrible doubt...
Oh, my daughter! Iolanta! No no! Can't be!
He will buy entry here at the cost of his life,
Who wants to reveal the secret to her?
It’s been decided, and the doctor will give in to his father!
(He leaves. The stage remains empty for some time.)
Forward! I see the door in front of us.
Which door?
Come after me!
(Enter the garden through the gate.)
Where are we? With your own eyes
I see paradise among the wild rocks!
Look, someone wrote here:
“Come back filled with fear,
You cannot enter here under penalty of death.”
Robert, what is this? Explain!
I do not understand anything.
No, God forbid you leave this garden,
Like heaven!
I don't want to go on a long journey again
Through the wilds and rocks!
And so we wandered a lot.
What if someone comes in and finds us?
Well? gets angry and stops;
We will tame him with the sword!
And then: the longer to King Rene
I won’t come for Iolanta,
The better for me, the better.
Oh, if only she could disappear without a trace!
I was even glad to get lost,
just so as not to see her!
The king will probably agree
Terminate your matchmaking.
They say he is so kind and smart!
Oh, if only, if only, Vaudemont!
Well, okay, what if she’s lovely?..
Who? Iolanta?
Probably prim and proud...
Don't I know nuns?
With your benedicite and amen,
Cold, soulless, like stone.
And it burns like wine.
She'll just take a look
Like lightning hurts,
And the flame of love
Will turn red in the blood;
She will laugh
How it bursts into song,
And a row of pearls
The face will be illuminated,
About seething passion,
And stormy and burning,
The eyes speak
And they beckon to bliss,
To the bliss of kisses,
Crazy desires
To the gentle squeezes
Snow-white hands,
To the oblivion of grief
And fortunately, without measures, without end and boundaries!
Who can compare with my Matilda,
Sparkling sparks of black eyes,
Like the stars of autumn nights in the sky!
Everything in her is wonderfully full of passionate bliss,
Everything about her is intoxicating, everything about her is intoxicating
And it burns like wine, and it burns like wine!
No!
The charm of caresses of rebellious beauty
They don't tell me anything
No tender passion awakens in me
An appeal to bliss with a languid look...
No!
Immersed in midnight peace,
love sleeps in me dreaming...
She dreams of an immaculate angel,
Heavenly meek, wonderful view...
The appearance of a bright radiance,
The appearance of wondrous beauty,
With a face full of charm
And wonderful kindness...
Guest of an unearthly village,
Spring snow is brighter,
Purer than the forest lily of the valley,
More beautiful than the lilies of the fields -
This is what I wait and crave!
Oh come, bright angel, source of love,
Warm the secret strings of hearts, revive them!
Because of the melting clouds
Light up, bright ray,
Twilight of an ardent soul,
Oh, hurry, hurry!
Oh come, bright angel,
I'm waiting for you, waiting for you!
Oh! My heart is weary
I'm waiting, I'm waiting, hurry up, hurry up!
Oh come, oh come!
I'm waiting for you, bright angel, come, come!
However, where are we?
What kind of wizard lives in such a paradise?
Robert, look, traces of a lovely foot...
Probably some kind of fairy...
They lead to the terrace...
Knock on the door!
(Vaudemont enters the terrace.)
It was not locked and opened immediately, -
I barely touched it.
Look what's there?
My God! Robert, Robert!
Oh what I see!
Sorceress?
No, angel! Creator! How beautiful she is!
Let me take a look too!..
(Looks at the door.)
Young girl!
Blind! How coldly you said!
Oh look!
How? This image is pristinely beautiful
Doesn't it make your chest tremble?
Creator! How beautiful is her peace!
He is bewitched... Gottfried! Answer! Let's run!
Hurry to shake off the charm, follow me!
Shut up, Robert!
Do not disturb the sleep of the quiet heavenly creature!
Don't open your eyes!.. I won't take away their shine...
Let me, oh, let me stop admiring you!
My God! Robert, she woke up, you woke her up!
(Runs off the terrace.)
She's coming here!
(trying to forcefully entice Vaudemont)
I won't let her touch you...
Let's run quickly!
(breaking out)
No, no, no way!
(Iolanta enters and stops at the top of the terrace.)
Burgundian knight I...
(holding Vaudemont)
Don't tell her who we are... shut up!
(moving away)
My name is Vaudemont...
We got lost, passing through mountains and forests...
Are you really tired?
I'll bring some wine here
It will give you back your strength...
(Goes for wine.)
(enthusiastically)
Oh, this is paradise!
No, it's a trap!
Death threatens us, dear friend!
I don't want to give up for nothing
Life is dearer to me than the grave.
Stay here, I'll fly
I can find a squad
And with him I will come to save you
With your beauty.
(Iolanta returns with two cups of wine.)
Don't be afraid, wait for me, forgive me!..
Here, knights, wine...
my father loves him...
(takes the cup and looks intently at Iolanta, to himself)
Will it really destroy me?
(decisively)
Let it go! From these hands I will accept death with joy!
(Drinks wine.)
(continues to hold the tray of cups, waiting for Robert to take his)
Where is your friend? I was glad for him...
My friend left, but he will return...
(puts a tray with cups on the table)
Gone? What a pity...
It's a pity! From what?
It's me, I disturbed your sleep... Sorry!
You appeared to me like a vision
Heavenly pure beauty,
Like the ghost of a sweet dream,
Like the appearance of pure inspiration.
My cry of involuntary admiration
You woke up and in front of me
suddenly the angel of heaven became earthly!
But I see you are not a vision
And it is given to you by fate to live.
(Iolanta, approaching the rose bush, picks flowers in confusion).
Inspire love, suffer, love!
You speak so unclearly...
I don't know, but your words
It’s strange and pleasant for me to listen to,
They make my head spin...
Strange! Excitement is born in the chest
And together with a terrible doubt:
Should I listen to you?
For what? For what? Why praise me?
You are in front of me for the first time.
(feelingly, expressively)
Your desire is my law,
Now I will hide my ardor from you,
But this is not a dream,
Not a ghost of happiness
As a sign of farewell
Pick me one of the roses
In memory of our date
And a hot flush of cheeks!
(Iolanta picks a white rose and gives it to him.)
I asked you to pick the red one...
Which one is it? I don't know.
(pointing to a bush of red roses)
I asked for one of those...
Which one? I don't understand.
Give me back the one I gave you
And I'll tear you another one.
Oh no! Like you, she is bright
I'll keep it as a keepsake
Emblem of your purity
Pick a red rose
I will take both as a coat of arms on my shield
And I will be faithful to them until the grave.
I'm ready to give you another rose.
(Iolanta picks off the white one again.)
How? Have you picked the white one again?
(Iolanta, in confusion, picks another white rose).
Again? I asked you to pick the red one!
What does "red" mean?
What a thought!..
(Plucks several roses.)
Tell me: how many roses did I pick?
(extending hands)
Well, what then? Give them here! Give!
(Vaudemont, without giving roses, retreats.)
You're kidding... it's so easy...
No! Without touching them...
Without touching?!.. Is it possible?
Creator! Creator! She's blind! unhappy!
Well, what then? Where are your flowers?
(with sadness and bewilderment)
Oh knight, knight, where are you?
I don’t understand your silence
I don't know what my words mean
You could have been unpleasant...
Tell me what is my fault?
I rarely meet strangers here
And I still don’t know much;
Teach me - I'm young
I will obey you!..
Are you silent? Don't you want to be with me?
So be it!..
Your wishes are my law,
I will hide my sadness from everyone...
But so that this is not a dream,
Not a ghost of happiness
As a sign of farewell
Pick and give one of the roses
In memory of our date!..
(Can’t cum due to the influx of tears.)
Child, oh no
(takes her hands)
no need for tears!
(joyfully)
Haven't you left yet?
Poor thing!.. Tell me,
Is it really never
At least occasionally, the thought never occurred to you,
What a terrible, cruel fate
Has she deprived you of a precious gift?
Didn't you really know why?
Do your lifeless eyes shine?
(touching eyes)
Why were eyes given to me?
In order to cry...
Cry in the eternal darkness of the night!..
Don't you know what comes from tears?
Does sadness pass easier and faster?
This is how everything is in nature after summer thunderstorms
It becomes fragrant and more cheerful.
Oh, that means there is no desire in your chest
See the light and glory of the universe?
What does it mean to see?
Experience the light of God.
Knight, what is light?
(enthusiastically)
Wonderful firstborn of creation,
The first gift of the Creator to the world,
The glory of God manifested,
The best pearl of His crown!
Sun, sky, stars
Fill the earthly world,
All nature and creatures
Indescribable beauty!
Who does not know the blessings of the world,
He can't love life
God's world is dressed in darkness,
Must be a stranger to the heart!
I knew them, unworthy,
You, oh maiden of beauty,
Your figure is virginal and slender,
Cute image and features
Yes, he is the firstborn of creation,
The best gift to the world from the Creator.
You sound so strange!
I do not know what happened to me.
Never such happiness
I haven't experienced...
But you were wrong, no, no, no!
To glorify God forever,
Knight, I don't need light:
The goodness of God is endless,
There are no limits to her anywhere!
On a hot day, in fragrances,
In the sounds and in myself,
Reflected in all creatures
God is invisible and good!
Can you see the chirping?
Birds in a rose bush
Or sweet murmur
A fast river on the sand?
Can you see in the sky
distant roar of thunder,
or the trills of a nightingale,
crystal bell sound,
your voice, your words?
But to know the beauty of the universe,
Knight, I don't need light.
But to become like you,
I would like to know the light of the sun.
I would like to see the sun
see the bright light of day;
wonderful gift of nature eternal,
a priceless and holy gift,
a priceless gift, a holy gift!
Yes! Is it true! Is it true!
The goodness of God is endless,
if the world is dressed in darkness!
It's true! It's true!
Oh, you're right, in your chest
the light of truth shines,
and before him is our earthly light
and transitory and pitiful.
Yeah, you don't need light
to experience the beauty of the universe!
The life of nature is unchanged
if the world is dressed in darkness,
if the world is dressed in darkness!
(behind the scenes)
Iolanta!
(behind the scenes)
Iolanta!
(behind the scenes)
Iolanta!
(listening)
My friends name is Marta...
Iolanta, where are you?
They are surprised that I woke up...
(behind the scenes)
Where is my daughter?
(Martha, Brigitte and Laura run in.)
You will recognize him!
(The servants run onto the stage. Iolanta goes to meet the king and hugs him.)
Creator! the knight is unfamiliar with her!
(entering)
Where is my daughter?
Oh, father!
Dear daughter! You are not alone...
(Enter Ebn-Hakia, Bertrand and Almeric.)
(to Vaudemont)
How did you get in here and who are you impudent?!
Burgundian knight. I came in by chance
Wandering through the Vosges mountains.
You didn't talk to her about anything?
Oh yes, father, he revealed a lot to me,
What I never knew before.
His words sounded so joyful
When he explained what light means
And he pitied me so much that I was deprived of sight.
You wretch, what have you done!
God, why did you send this punishment!
(approaches the king)
Not punishment, but the salvation of your daughter.
(From this moment the scene begins to darken, in the distance the mountains take on the color of the evening dawn. The king, covering his face with his hands, sinks onto the bench.)
You, blinded by a false thought,
I wanted to hide her misfortune,
but you see: it was impossible
conceal the understanding of the world.
It was a delusion
Believe me, the truth cannot be hidden forever.
The consciousness in her has now awakened, the truth has been revealed to her mind!
Have hope that desire will awaken the light in her!
Now it is possible that desire will give her light!
He told me about the radiance
about the shine of a sunny day, there was so much compassion in it!
He revealed the truth to me!
It was such a joy to be with him!
There was affection in his speeches,
tenderness, compassion
and I listened to him with pleasure!
He wanted to enlighten me!
Impudent madman!
How dare you break the ban?
You will die!
You will atone for insolence with your head.
How much grief, how many disasters you have brought!
Oh God, oh God, have mercy!
Save her from disaster, oh my God!
What did I do with my confession?
what did my fervor of speeches lead to!
Instead of happiness, sorrow, trial
brought to my beauty!
What have I done, oh God, my God, have mercy!
Save her from disasters
My God!
You brought unexpected grief to us!
My God! My God!
Spare us from disasters!
Our God, save us from disasters!
Have mercy and save!
Dove Iolanta, my daughter,
Listen, I brought the doctor with me.
He can bring you back to the light;
Tell me: do you want to see?
Can I ardently wish
Something that I only vaguely understand?
But if my father wants,
I will obey him obediently...
(quietly to the king)
I am losing hope of healing;
Here are the fruits of your system:
She has no desire to receive the gift of sight
And see the light.
(quietly to the doctor)
Wait! Now I see: you were right!
But there is still hope for salvation,
The Lord gave me an idea.
(loud)
Begin the treatment, great doctor!
The Lord will help you!
(to Vaudemont)
And you, the cause of grief, answer!
When you came here, did you read this inscription?
And, despite this, you decided to enter the garden?
As you can see, yes, I decided...
Do you remember: the inscription condemns to death,
Those who entered here without permission?
I remember... yes!..
So: when treatment on her does not help...
(Iolanthe)
You will die!
Oh my God! unfortunate, poor knight!
What is he up to?
Father, wait, did I understand?
Should he really die?
Yes, he should be executed.
It can’t be, no, I don’t believe it!
Father, you are merciful
You can't be so inhuman!
He will die when treatment doesn't help you.
Poor Iolanta, how she suffers!
Oh, have mercy, sir!
Have pity on her, have pity!
Oh my poor angel
how she suffers!
Oh, sir, have mercy on your daughter, have mercy!
Poor thing, our bright angel!
Oh, have pity on her, lord! Have pity!
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IOLANTA
Lyric opera in one act
Libretto
M.I.CHAIKOVSKY
based on the drama by G. HERTZMusic
P.I.CHAIKOVSKYCHARACTERS
| René, King of Provence | bass |
| Robert, Duke of Burgundy | baritone |
| Vaudemont, Count, Burgundian Knight | tenor |
| Ebn-Hakia, Moorish physician | baritone |
| Almer And k, squire of King René | tenor |
| Bertrand, gatekeeper of the palace | bass |
| Iolanta, daughter of King René (blind) | soprano |
| Martha, Bertrand's wife, Iolanta's nurse | contralto |
| Brigitte, Iolanta's friend | soprano |
| Laura, Iolanta's friend | mezzo-soprano |
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Iolanta's maids and friends, the king's retinue, the army of the Duke of Burgundy and squires. |
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The action takes place in the mountains of Southern France in the 15th century. |
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My little bird, Iolanta, are you tired?
Iolanta (thoughtfully)
Are you tired? I don't know, really!
(Sighs.)
Yes!
Nurse, tell me...What, dove?
I'm missing something... what?
I wish I knew.
Father, you, Martha, you dear friends,(facing the wrong direction from where Brigitte and Laura are standing; they
approach her)You all live for me,
With affection and happiness, color my life,
And I can't repay you with anything
For all the love!It is our duty to serve you:
You are the mistress, we are the servants!No! No it is not true,
You are my friends.
Oh Martha, I want something
And what? I do not know.Martha (crying)
Dove, Iolanta, stop it.
Wait! Wait! Come to me,
Come closer!..
(Touches Martha's eyes.)
You are crying? From what?Can I be calm?
When do you cry?Martha, I'm crying
But I didn’t show my tears like you did.
My voice was firm and even,
You didn't touch my eyes
Why do you know
About these tears?(Martha and her friends are silent in embarrassment.)
No, there's something here
What can't you tell me?Full, full!
Brigid
The music upset you.
Oh yes, of course music.
(Musicians.)
Enough will be!
P.I. Tchaikovsky opera "Iolanta"
Opera P.I. Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta" belongs to the genre of lyrical musical drama. It was created in 1891 from July to September, and became the composer's last opera. “I will write such an opera that everyone will cry,” said the great Russian composer while working on his work. He really succeeded, although the audience’s tears appear from happiness and joy for the heroes. The opera “Iolanta” is rightfully considered the author’s most rosy and serene work. It was created based on the poetic drama “King René’s Daughter” by Heinrich Hertz, translated by F. Miller and later remade by V.R. Zotov.
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Characters |
Description |
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| soprano | blind girl, daughter of the King of Provence | |
| Rene | bass | King of Provence, owner of the castle, father of Iolanta |
| Robert | baritone | Duke of Burgundy, Iolanta's betrothed groom |
| Gottfried Vaudemont | tenor | Burgundian knight in love with Iolanta |
| Ebn-Hakia | baritone | doctor from Mauritania |
| Almeric | tenor | squire Rene |
| Bertrand | bass | gatekeeper at the castle |
| Martha | contralto | wife of the gatekeeper, nurse of Rene's daughter |
| Laura and Brigitte | mezzo-soprano and soprano | Iolanta's girlfriends |
Summary
XV century, French Provence. The action takes place in the ancient family castle of Rene, who reigns in Provence. His only heir, Iolanta, completely lost her sight in early childhood. The loving father forbade everyone to talk about the possibility of seeing, so the girl did not suspect that she was different from others. Her life was spent in the love and care of those around her. The father, the servant, the nurse, the girlfriends - everyone was kind and caring.
The father did not give up trying to cure his beloved daughter. A doctor from Mauritania, Ebn-Hakia, who arrived at his invitation, examined the blind girl while she was sleeping. His conclusions left my father dismayed. The doctor said that Iolanta should know that she is blind; only with a strong desire to see the girl can there be hope for healing after the operation. For the father, who had protected his beautiful daughter from the truth all her life, telling Iolanta about her blindness was a very difficult step.
Two noble young men arrived at the castle: Duke Robert of Burgundy and knight Gottfried Vaudemont. Duke Robert and Iolanta were betrothed as children, as their parents decided; the young people themselves had never seen each other. In the heart of the young man there lived love for Matilda, the countess from Lorraine, but he did not dare to disobey the orders of his parents and came to Provence to enter into a marriage.
Having gotten lost, the young men accidentally ended up in the castle garden, where the beautiful Iolanta was sleeping peacefully on the terrace. The beauty of the girl won the heart of the Burgundian knight Gottfried. Waking up, the girl offered them wine and fruit, but Robert decided to leave under the pretext of searching for his lost associates. Iolanta and Vaudemont were left alone.
Having asked the girl to give him a red rose, Vaudemont discovers a terrible truth - Iolanta is completely deprived of the ability to see. The young man told the blind beauty how beautiful the world is when you see it.
Rene pretends to threaten the knight with execution if, after the operation, Iolanta does not begin to see. The girl fell in love with an ardent young man and dreams of being cured in order to save her beloved from death.
The doctor begins the operation, because this is exactly the state of mind of his patient that he desired. At this time, Robert returned to help his friend. His meeting with King Rene was unexpected, but fateful. He confessed everything to the ruler of Provence and relied on his generosity. The young man spoke about his love for Matilda and promised that he would marry Iolanta, but explained that he could not love her. The king released the young man from his word and did not insist on marriage.
The gatekeeper appears and reports that the operation was successful - the beautiful Iolanta received her sight. King Rene is incredibly happy. He blessed the marriage of his daughter with the knight Vaudemont. Everyone rejoices and glorifies God, the sun and the light.
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Interesting Facts
Viewers saw the premiere at the Mariinsky Theater in the northern capital at the end of 1892. Alexander III was present at the dress rehearsal on December 5. The debut took place with the participation of conductor Eduard Napravnik, the ballet was conducted by Riccardo Drigo. In November 1893, the opera was staged at the Bolshoi Theater by director Lossky. Conducted by Ippolit Altani.
After the October Revolution, Pashkovsky staged Iolanta for the first time in Leningrad at the Maly Opera Theater, with Samosud conducting. Later the work was shown on stages in many cities of the USSR. Opera performances continued during the Great Patriotic War.
The world public was first able to appreciate opera in German in 1893 in the city of Hamburg. Performances also took place in many European cultural centers. In 1933, the Russian-language version was shown in the United States of America.
Summary
The action takes place in the 15th century, in the Vosges, in a luxurious garden at a castle in which Iolanta, the blind daughter of King Rene of Provence, lives.
Iolanta talks with her nurse, Martha, and complains that she is languishing with a feeling of melancholy unknown to her; Iolanta's friends, Brigitte and Laura, try to cheer her up with songs and bring her flowers. Martha also consoles her pet and sings her favorite lullaby, to the sounds of which she falls asleep. The sleeping Iolanta is carefully carried into the castle.
The sound of a trumpet is heard, Almeric, King Rene's squire, appears; he announces to the castle gatekeeper, Bertrand, that after him the king should arrive here with the famous doctor, who is called upon to heal the blind Iolanta. The sound of trumpets announces the arrival of the king.
Rene enters, accompanied by the Moorish doctor Ebn-Hakia. Rene explains to Ebn-Hakia that Iolanta has been engaged to the Duke of Burgundy Robert since childhood and should soon marry him, but the Duke does not know that his bride is blind, and Iolanta herself is unaware of her misfortune. Having raised his daughter in this secluded castle and surrounded her with devoted people, he forbade her to reveal the truth under pain of death. Ebn-Hakia announces that Iolanta’s healing is possible only if she, having learned about the misfortune weighing on her, passionately desires to gain sight. The king, tormented by fear for the fate of his daughter, indecisively retires to the castle with the doctor.
Enter Duke Robert of Burgundy and his friend, Count Vaudemont. They admire the beauty of the garden, which seems to have grown by magic in the wilderness, and wonder why there is an inscription above the entrance threatening death to anyone who enters here without permission. Robert is sad - he is relentlessly haunted by the thought that he will soon have to unite in marriage with Iolanta, whom he does not know at all, and meanwhile, his heart entirely belongs to another.
Iolanta appears on the castle terrace; Vaudemont is amazed by her beauty. Iolanta, hearing unfamiliar voices, invites the newcomers to rest under the shade of the trees and hurries to bring them wine. The Duke wants to leave; but Vaudemont, completely enchanted by the beauty of the unknown girl, who appears to him as some kind of heavenly vision, remains. He enthusiastically expresses his admiration for the returning Iolanta and asks her to pick a red rose as a souvenir; Iolanta gives him a rose, but a white one. Vaudemont repeats his request and again receives a white rose. A strange suspicion creeps into the knight's soul: to check his guess, he picks several roses and asks Iolanta to tell him how many of them he has. The girl asks to give her flowers to count. Now Vaudemont is convinced that the girl who charmed him is blind; he reveals this secret to her and tries to console her as much as possible, but, unwittingly carried away, begins to describe to her the beauties of God’s world, which she is not destined to see.
Voices are heard: the king enters, followed by the doctor and the castle servants. Rene learns with horror that Vaudémont revealed her misfortune to Iolanthe. In desperation, he finally decides to offer her treatment for Ebn-Hakia. Iolanta is rather indifferent to this and, rather, expresses submission to fate, which is why the doctor loses hope for a happy outcome of his treatment. Then the king, noticing the impression Vaudemont made on the girl, announces to the knight that he will be executed if she does not see the light. Frightened Iolanta, out of love for Vaudemont, begs the doctor to heal her and goes with him to the castle.
The sound of trumpets heralds the arrival of the Duke of Burgundy, who, with armed knights, hurries to the rescue of his friend. Vaudemont reveals to his friend his love for Iolanta, his bride, and asks Robert to confess to the king that he loves someone else. Rene returns his word to the Duke and agrees to Iolanta's marriage to Count Vaudemont. Iolanta, who has regained her sight, appears at the door of the castle. The happy king hurries to hug his daughter and then brings her groom to her. Iolanta, kneeling down, thanks God in fervent prayer for the healing.
Botticelli V.A. Historical background of Hertz's drama and Tchaikovsky's opera "Iolanta"Iolanta" by Tchaikovsky - mystical opera: who was the prototype?
It is difficult to say where the Dane Henrik Hertz got his interest in occult sciences, the history of the Merovingians, the image of King René, who went down in history under the nickname “Good King René” and members of his family, but the play “King René’s Daughter” was born. True, one of the daughters of King Rene married the English king Henry the Sixth and became a prominent figure in the mid-15th century, when the War of the Roses took place. Perhaps the Danes were interested in the history of the neighboring country, or perhaps a general passion for mysticism played a role. One way or another, the drama of the Danish playwright and poet also interested Russia! Presumably, Debussy could have been an intermediary between the text of the play and Tchaikovsky's address to it.
French mystics could find contacts with the Russian royal family through Papus - he was admitted to all the esoteric salons of Paris. The wife of Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, was also interested in mysticism. She was familiar with the author of the work “History of Occultism” Papus. In the royal family there were the Grand Dukes of the Romanovs, who were prone to similar hobbies, for example, Vel. book Konstantin Romanov, famous poet. Tchaikovsky communicated with him and wrote romances based on his inspired texts. It can be assumed that in this way Tchaikovsky approached the text of Hertz’s drama with the idea of writing an opera - a “fairy tale” (censorship did not favor mystical texts and religious-historical allegories on the Russian stage, and even acquaintance with the royal family could not put pressure on it).
There is another possible source of interest in the topic of King Rene - Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck. She was a patron of Tchaikovsky, and among her acquaintances in Paris was Debussy, who in his early youth served as the teacher of her daughter, whom he expressed a desire to marry. Debussy and Tchaikovsky could communicate through N. von Meck.
Tchaikovsky website:
The one-act opera Iolanta was commissioned from Tchaikovsky in 1891. It was intended to be staged on the same evening as the ballet. "Nutcracker" , ordered at the same time I.A.Vsevolozhsky , director of the Imperial Theaters. The plot was developed on the Russian stage even before Tchaikovsky, based on the drama of the Danish playwright H. Hertz (1845). Moreover, Hertz’s drama was based on genuine historical facts. Tchaikovsky was familiar with both Herz's drama and its Russian translations. His library preserves an edition of the drama in German, made in Berlin in 1876, but exactly when Tchaikovsky became acquainted with this plot is unknown. Miller translates the text into Russian and Tchaikovsky gets acquainted with his work in 1884. Modest Petrovich Tchaikovsky created the libretto based on a reworked drama in V. Zotov’s version, which was staged at the Moscow Maly Theater.
The first thoughts about an opera based on this plot appeared several years before the start of work on Iolanta. Perhaps, when ordering this opera, Tchaikovsky’s opinion regarding the plot was taken into account. It is curious that it was during these same years that V. G. Korolenko’s story “The Blind Musician” was published in Russian magazines, in which an almost similar plot was also developed, although in a completely different historical context. But both Tchaikovsky and Korolenko present a contrast between the value of the world of spiritual beauty and the real beauty of existence. There are even similarities in the scenes with the choice of a flower by a blind young man (Korolenko) and a blind girl (Tchaikovsky). There is no direct influence of one work on the other, but the coincidence is symptomatic. In Tchaikovsky's opera, many researchers find echoes of the composer's passion for Spinoza's philosophy during this period, reading his works, and correspondence. These books have been preserved in Tchaikovsky’s library, and you can see numerous notes from the composer in them.
But in any case, the interest of Russian and French composers in this topic is not accidental. It is no coincidence that the strange coincidences of the names of historical figures and characters in Hertz’s drama and Tchaikovsky’s opera are:
- the king of Provence Rene becomes a Provençal count in the opera (it was forbidden to show kings of even the distant past on the domestic stage, and in the operas “The Night Before Christmas” and “Cherevichki” on the Gogol plot, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov were asked to replace Catherine the Second with Potemkin, who gives from the face of the queen to the blacksmith Vakula);
- Yolande de Bar becomes Iolanta in Russian transcription;
- her absentee betrothal to the Burgundian Duke Robert has not yet been proven as a historical fact, but it is mentioned in the opera;
- tells the story of Robert’s love for Countess Matilda of Lorraine;
- Robert’s friend was Count Vaudemont, who fell in love at first sight with Iolanta (the historical Yolande married Vaudemont);
- Historians can interpret the knights’ request to blind Iolanta to pluck a red rose for them (but she plucks a white one), knowing the vicissitudes of the War of the Scarlet and White Roses;
- I don’t know about the Moorish (Spanish-Arab) doctor Ibn-Hakiya, but he can personify the Eastern enlightener, and at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, European and Russian voyages with lectures by gurus from the East were a reality;
- the happiness of physical enlightenment was linked to spiritual enlightenment, and the enlightened intelligentsia of that time yearned for this, so the topic was relevant.
Rene dAnjou was the king of Naples and Sicily, Majorca and Sardinia, Aragon and Valencia, Hungary and Anjou, he owned the counties of Provence, Piedmont, Guise, Calabria and Lorraine. He lived in the 15th century in his French county of Bar and among his subjects was Joan of Arc. Rene's mother was Jeanne's patron, Yolande Anjou. He was born in 1408. He loved art, especially painting and literature - he himself composed poems and wrote allegories. He was no stranger to mysticism, read novels from the Arthurian and Graaliad cycles, and patronized Columbus. He boasted of a cup, believed to belong to Mary Magdalene. Among his enlightened friends was the Italian poet Jacques Sannazzaro, and among his royal friends were the Milanese rulers Sforza and the Florentine Medici. He loved Italy and spent many years there. Perhaps, with his light hand, the Medici created Plato's Academy and the first public library in Europe - the Florentine San Marco. At the University of Florence, the study of the Greek language was introduced and the manuscripts of ancient Greek philosophers began to be studied. Rene's uncle, the Cardinal of Lorraine, created a knightly order, which Rene joined in 1418. At the same time he was chosen as Grand Master of the Knightly Order of Zion. Subsequently he founded his own order - the Crescent. It included Sforza, Comte de Lenoncourt and Ferry de Vaudemont. The daughter of King Rene, Yolande de Bar (born in 1428), married the latter. The ancestors of the Vaudemons lived in Lorraine since the reign of the mysterious Merovingian dynasty and became famous for organizing festivities in honor of the Queen of Heaven. They erected a statue of the Virgin Mary, the patroness of the county. Oddly enough, the pilgrimage to Vaudemont County did not stop; Yolande de Bar returned it to its former glory. The son of Yolande de Bar also bore the name Rene the Second, Duke of Lorraine, and was so keen on occult sciences that he went to study it in Florence, at the Platonic Academy with Vespucci (together with the future painter Botticelli).
Since 1449, his father lived in his Spanish possessions - in Tarrascon - and composed knightly plays, which were staged there (his favorite theme was the allegorical triumph of spiritual values, for example, in “The Shepherdess Act”). Rene dAnjou was very interested in the history of the ancient Greek province of Arcadia. The etymology of its name was derived from the bear Arkas - the son of the nymph Callisto, who served the Greek goddess Artemis (the Gaul-Celts called her Ardenne). By the beginning of our era, the Arcadians went north, settling in what is now Western Germany and settling on the Rhine and Danube. They assimilated among the Franks as the Sicambrians and their blood is present in the family of the Merovingians - the Frankish kings. Virgil was also worried about the mystery of Arcadia when he talked about the golden age that had come on Earth in this region (Arcadia the Happy). King Rene was interested in the reason for such happiness and felt nostalgia for such a golden age and earthly paradise. He tried to understand the meaning of the ancient allegory. The image of an underground river was strange - it flowed through the Greek land, called Alphios, i.e. “primary source” (Alpheus), and came to the surface on the island of Sicily (now called Arethusa), without mixing with the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cardinal de Lenoncourt ordered Sannazzaro's Italian pastoral "Arcadia" to be translated into French (Jacopo Sannazzaro Jr. published it in 1502). It was admired in Renaissance Italy by the artist Guercino, and the French painter Poussin came to Rome to study it. The poem was about the underground river Alpheus, but the interpretation of the meaning led to the history of the Merovingian dynasty, which in Provence and Languedoc since the Middle Ages has been associated with the continuation of the line of Jesus Christ. Commentators deduced from vague data that he had a family (his wife was Mary Magdalene, the marriage in Cana of Galilee was described as their wedding, the presence of children was revealed, from whom the dynasty of Merovingian kings descended). The offspring of Magdalene, who emigrated from the Romans to southern French Provence, were compared to the undercurrent of the Alpheus-Arethusa River. As the ruler of Provence, King Rene dAnjou had not only ancient roots, being in direct kinship with the descendants of the Merovingians (he knew the genealogy of his family perfectly and was ready to trace it back to Noah), but also a passionate interest in such a mysterious genealogy, traced in medieval chivalric novels, and in Renaissance poems. The theme did not fade away in modern times - classicism encouraged allegory and Poussin several times began to vary the theme of “Happy Arcadia” in his work. The most powerful kings of the European powers dreamed of having paintings of this kind, without hiding their interest in the Merovingian genealogy, for their names were also included in it through dynastic marriages. It is difficult to say whether they ever dreamed of laying claim to their genealogical rights to the throne of Judah and fulfilling the intention of Jesus Christ as the King of the Jews? But interest in finding traces of Mary Magdalene and her family’s stay in Gaul (France) was high. It was also expected that the search for her tomb would be crowned with success and some sacred objects would be found - even the Holy Grail. This is what Abbot Saunière, with whom Debussy communicated, did in the town of Rennes-le-Chateau. Rennes was a potential burial place for Magdala; it is not surprising that Poussin, while working on the painting, came there more than once and painted landscape backgrounds from nature.
Tchaikovsky appears in this opera as a genuine Russian cosmist, on behalf of Ibn-Hakiya, inviting Iolanta to raise her eyes to the sky and, having regained her sight, see the sky, the stars and God. This mystical idea, as well as the inspired hymns to the Creator, generously scattered throughout the text, reveal Tchaikovsky’s amazing interest in a topic that was extraordinary for him.
Plot: in Provence, in the mountains of Southern France, there is an ancient castle of King Rene. The king's daughter, the beautiful Iolanta, lives there. A great misfortune befell her in childhood: she became blind. The girl is unaware of her blindness: by order of Rene, it is forbidden to mention sight and light in front of her. The father, girlfriends, old nurse - everyone is friendly, affectionate with Iolanta, and her life is joyful and calm. But Rene does not give up the thought of healing her daughter. At his request, the famous Moorish doctor Ebn-Hakia comes to the castle, who, having examined Iolanta during her sleep, informs the king of his conclusions: a successful outcome of the operation is possible, but only if the patient learns about her misfortune and passionately wants to see. Rene is confused. He understands that without this condition the doctor will not agree to the operation, but, knowing what a painful blow the news of her blindness will be for his daughter, he does not dare to tell her the secret. Meanwhile, Iolanta, sleeping alone on the terrace, is seen by Godfrey Vaudemont, a young Burgundian knight. Having gotten lost while hunting, he and his friend, Duke Robert, accidentally ended up in the royal garden, without even expecting it. Vaudemont is fascinated by the sight of a sleeping girl he does not know. But Robert is not touched by Iolanta’s beauty - he is passionately in love with the Countess of Lorraine Matilda. Only one circumstance darkens his feelings for her: even as a child, Robert was engaged to the daughter of King Rene, Iolanta. He had never seen her, and now, many years later, the time had come to conclude an alliance long ago predetermined by his parents. Robert is in despair, unable to imagine being separated from Matilda. Vaudemont consoles him. Waking up, Iolanta hears voices unfamiliar to her and hastily rushes into the garden. She asks the strangers who they are and where they are from, but Vaudemont, held by Robert, does not answer quite clearly. The girl offers the knights wine, but Robert, suspecting a trap, refuses and goes into the forest to search for those close to him. Vaudémont remains alone with Iolanta and, becoming more and more enchanted by her gentle appearance, tells the girl about his admiration and his love. In confusion, plucking roses from the bush, she listens to the knight Iolanthe, and he, becoming more and more inspired, asks to pick a rose as a souvenir. The girl picks the white one, while the knight asked for the red one. Thus it turns out that she is blind. He selflessly tells Iolanta about the endless beauty of nature, about light - the source of knowledge. However, this does not awaken in her the desire to see. In desperation, the king threatens Vaudemont with the death penalty if the operation goes unfavorably. Fear for the life of the person who has become close to her evokes in Iolanta a passionate desire for a successful outcome of the operation. Meanwhile, Robert and his entourage return to help out their friend. Struck by an unexpected meeting with King Rene, he is embarrassed and excited, and Vaudemont begs his friend to publicly tell about his love for Matilda. The king, touched by his straightforwardness, returns the knight's word. Bertrand enters and reports about the miracle that has happened - Iolanta sees! The tense anticipation of those present gives way to wild joy. Happy Rene blesses his daughter’s marriage to Vaudemont and together with everyone praises the sun and light.
Christian motives in the opera by P.I. Tchaikovsky "Iolanta"
The libretto, composed by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, is based on the story described by the Danish poet Heinrich Hertz (1845) “King René's Daughter.” Pyotr Ilyich wrote in a letter to his brother about the opera “Iolanta”: “ I will write such an opera that everyone will cry" “Iolanta” is the last opera by P.I. Tchaikovsky and one of the composer’s brightest works. There is not a single negative character here; the entire opera is filled with Christian content.
In Soviet times, the religious meaning of the opera contradicted the atheistic worldview and therefore libretto has been changed. As a result, the opera lost its drama: discussions about Divine light were replaced by banal talk about the need for physiological vision.
Iolanta is the blind daughter of King René, unaware of her illness. She lives surrounded by the love and care of her neighbors. Nothing should remind her of her shortcomings. But Iolanta begins to have some vague premonitions: “I’m missing something,... what? I would like to know”, “Are eyes really given only to cry?” When putting Iolanta to bed, the maids sing her a lullaby, similar to a prayer:
Iolanta's father, King Rene, makes an attempt to help his daughter. He invites the Markitan doctor Ebn-Hakia. While waiting for the doctor's verdict, Rene discusses the meaning of suffering: why did God allow such misfortune in his daughter's life? His words are full of Christian humility and self-sacrifice.
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Will Iolanta see the light, or am I destined for eternal torment? |
The doctor tells the king that healing is only possible if Iolanta finds out about her misfortune. But he cannot guarantee a positive result - “everything is in God’s power!” He says that there are two worlds: the carnal and the spiritual, inextricably linked.
In order for healing to occur, Iolanta must thirst for healing.
Due to a coincidence of circumstances, Iolanta learns of her blindness from Count Vaudemont, whom she loved with all her soul. To Iolanta’s question: “What does it mean to see?” Vaudémont replies: “To know the light of God.” Explaining what “light” is, he says that it is “ The wonderful firstborn of creation, the first gift of the Creator to the world, the manifestation of God’s Glory, the best pearl of His crown!»
But Vaudemont cannot convince Iolanta of the need for sight; she claims that in order to see, she does not need light! She is already able to sense the invisible God:
King Rene receives a thought from the Lord, he announces that Vaudemont, who violated the king’s ban, is subject to the death penalty. But if Iolanta receives his sight, then he will be given life. Iolanta is ready for self-sacrifice; she will accept any suffering if it saves her lover. The king says about her that “like the Lamb of God, she goes to torment.” Iolanta receives healing not because she longs for insight for herself, but because by doing so she saves the person she loves.
Having received healing, Iolanta kneels before God:
The opera ends with general praise:
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