FULL ESMERALDA Playlist (Dargomyzhsky) St.Petersburg 2021 Sofia Nekrasova, Miroslav Molchanov, Sergey Aleshchenko, Yury Borshchev, Dmitry Udi, Olesya Gordeeva, Larisa Pominova

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: Esmeralda  
• Composer: Dargomyzhsky Alexander  
• Libretto: Alexander Dargomyzhsky based on Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: St.Petersburg Chamber Opera, St.Petersburg, Russia  
• Recorded: September 29, 2021
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Sofia Nekrasova, Miroslav Molchanov, Sergey Aleshchenko, Yury Borshchev, Dmitry Udi, Olesya Gordeeva, Larisa Pominova
• Conductor: Maxim Valkov   
• Orchestra:
• Chorus Master: Igor Pototsky   
• Choreographer: Nadezhda Kalinina  
• Stage Director: Yuri Alexandrov  
• Stage Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev  
• Costume Designer:   
• Lighting Designer: Azat Yulbarisov  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: @KULTURA108  
• Date Published: 2025  
• Format: Unknown
• Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
• Subtitles: nosubs  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

SYNOPSIS:
Among the crowd wanders the archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral, Claude Frollo. He is possessed by demons. His heart is consumed by passion for the young gypsy Esmeralda, who often dances and sings in the square in front of the cathedral. Suddenly, a procession appears on the square – the people are celebrating the Feast of Jesters. Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, is elected King for his ugliness. Seeing Quasimodo at the head of the procession, Claude Frollo tears off his jester’s crown and beats him. The people in their fury want to rush at the monk, but the old gypsy witch pacifies the enraged crowd. Everyone disperses. Left alone with the old woman, the holy father tells her to keep an eye on Esmeralda, who lives in her house. Fatal passion has driven him mad… Together with Quasimodo, he decides to kidnap Esmeralda. As soon as the soldiers’ footsteps fade away, Claude Frollo and Quasimodo attack Esmeralda, but the kidnapping fails. The girl’s desperate cries bring back the patrol, led by a brilliant officer named Phoebus de Chateaupers. Frollo cowardly flees. The soldiers arrest Quasimodo.
Enchanted by the noble handsome Phoebus, Esmeralda receives a scarf from him as a keepsake… and with a deft movement steals his purse.
The people crowd around the place of execution. Quasimodo suffers from pain. He asks for water, but everyone mocks him. Esmeralda, snatching the jug from the executioner’s hands, gives the unfortunate man a drink. Quasimodo renounces Claude Frollo, who betrayed him. He swears to serve only Esmeralda for the rest of his life.
Guests have gathered at the house of Fleur de Lys, Phoebus’s bride. Seeing Esmeralda in the crowd, Phoebus’s friend Chevreuse draws his attention to the beautiful gypsy. Admiring the girl’s beauty, he jokingly asks if they had saved her that night. Phoebus is embarrassed… Fleur is overcome with the pangs of jealousy. She asks to call Esmeralda into the house, she wants to take a closer look at her rival. Seeing the gypsy wearing the same scarf that she gave to her fiancé, Fleur de Lys flies into a rage. She orders the thief to leave the house. Phoebus takes Esmeralda under his protection.

Act II
Tavern. Phoebus and his friends are feasting. The officer is getting ready for a date with Esmeralda. When his friends leave on patrol, the figure of Claude Frollo suddenly appears before Phoebus. He demands that Phoebus renounce his love for the gypsy. Claude warns Phoebus that if he goes on the fatal date, he will find death, not love. Phoebus is scared… Having overcome a moment of weakness, he resolutely declares that he will not give up Esmeralda to anyone. Phoebus leaves, Claude follows him in impotent rage.
The dwelling of the old gypsy woman. Hired killers are ready… Claude Frollo spies on the lovers. Esmeralda experiences love for the first time in her life and gives herself up to her feelings with all the force of youthful passion. Claude’s rage grows with every second.
In a fit of jealousy, unable to see the happy lovers in each other’s arms, he rushes at Phoebus and stabs him. And then quickly disappears into the darkness.
The dungeon. Esmeralda, maddened by suffering, passionately desires death. Claude Frollo appears in the prison cell. He tries to take possession of Esmeralda, convincing her that if she responds to his feelings, he will save her from death. The gypsy, recognizing the murderer, pushes the madman away with curses. This does not stop the criminal passion of the unfortunate lover. Unable to control himself, Frollo tries to take Esmeralda by force… The gypsy falls unconscious.
Execution of Esmeralda. The crowd surrounds the girl sentenced to death. Many are touched by her youth and beauty. Claude Frollo offers her salvation for the last time, but Esmeralda scornfully rejects him. Better death than the love of a criminal. Quasimodo, disguised as an executioner, tries to save his beloved, but Frollo does not give in. He claims that Esmeralda is a witch and must die. Suddenly, mortally wounded Phoebus appears. He calls the name of his real killer. Frollo understands that it is all over… and dies, torn apart by the crowd. The dying Phoebus bids farewell to Esmeralda. Esmeralda follows her lover. Quasimodo weeps against the backdrop of the burning cathedral…

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