User:Sparafucil/Cinq-Mars

Cinq-Mars is an opera in four acts by Charles Gounod to a libretto by Paul Poirson & Louis Gallet looosly adapted from Alfred de Vigny's historical novel. It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique on April 5, 1877.

The plot faithfully follows the external events of failed revolt of the French nobility against Richelieu's consolidation of power, but supplies a secret love affair between Cinq-Mars and a princess. Whereas de Vigny's character yearned to become her social equal, the opera's hero enters politics only on learning of a planned marriage between Marie and the king of Poland. After the conspiracy is discovered, she is given a chance to save him by agreeing to the match, but her sacrifice is in vain: before their escape plans can be put into effect, the hour of execution is suddenly moved forward.

The work work's reception was luke warm: "If [it] adds nothing to the glory of Gounod, neither does it diminish it." Some critic seized on the straddling of the genres of grand opéra and opéra comique; a second edition (Léon Grus, n.d.) contains recitatives for the very few spoken scenes as well as an act III cantabile for de Thou written for the La Scala production.