ANDRÉ GRÉTRY
Richard Coeur-De-Lion
A French Opera with English Surtitles

Saturday, November 15, 2025 3 pm
at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul's Centre

It was immensely popular in its time and remains a landmark in the development of French opera.

It dramatizes the legendary rescue of King Richard the Lionheart by his loyal squire and troubadour, Blondel de Nesle, after Richard is imprisoned in Austria on his return from the Third Crusade.

Featuring

SYNOPSIS

On his way home from the Third Crusade, King Richard has been imprisoned by Leopold, Archduke of Austria. The king's faithful squire Blondel seeks him out disguised as a blind troubadour. He arrives in Linz where he meets the English exile Sir Williams and his daughter Laurette, who tell him of an unknown prisoner in the nearby castle. Laurette is in love with the prison governor, Florestan. Countess Marguerite, who is in love with King Richard, arrives and offers Blondel her help. Blondel goes to the castle where he sings the song Une fièvre brûlante ("A burning fever"). Richard recognises the music and tries to communicate with Blondel, who is seized by the guards. But he is freed when he tells Florestan of an assignation Laurette wants with him the following night. Blondel reveals the truth to Williams and the countess and they plan to free the king. Marguerite holds a party, during which Florestan, who had come to meet Laurette, is held captive. The countess's troops besiege the castle and rescue Richard.