Lyric Opera 2022-2023 Issue 5 - Le Comte Ory

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 22 Additional support is provided by Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Production Circle. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the W.James & Maxine P.Farrell French Opera Chair. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Of cial Airline,American Airlines. Production owned by the Metropolitan Opera. This production premiered at the Metropolitan Opera on March 24,2011. All scenery,properties,and costumes constructed by the Metropolitan Opera Shops. Additional costumes by: Steppenwolf Theatre Costume Shop Goodman Theatre Costume Shop John Kristiansen New York Inc. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS Act 1 1 hour 10 minutes Intermission 25 minutes Act 2 1 hour 5 minutes Total 2 hours 40 minutes ACT I Outside Formoutiers Castle The Count of Formoutiers and most of the men leave for the Holy Land to ght in the Crusades, leaving behind the count’s sister, Adèle, and her companion Ragonde. The young Count Ory, who is trying to win the countess, is resolved to take advantage of the situation. With the help of his friend Raimbaud, he has disguised himself as a hermit and taken up residence outside the castle gates. Village girls and peasants gather to get the holy man’s advice on matters of the heart. They bring gifts and are entertained delightfully. Ory blesses them and promises to make all their wishes come true. Among the crowd is Ragonde. She tells Ory that, in the men’s absence, the ladies of the castle have taken a vow to live as widows, but that the Countess Adèle, who is suffering from a strange melancholy, will come to consult him. Ory is overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her. Ory’s page Isolier arrives with Ory’s tutor, who is looking for his charge. The tutor is suspicious about the hermit’s identity and leaves to summon reinforcements. Isolier, however, does not recognize his master. He con des to the “hermit” that he is in love with the countess and that he has a plan to enter the castle: he will disguise himself as a pilgrim. Ory, impressed by the idea, agrees to help but secretly resolves to use the plan for his own ends. The countess appears, lamenting her melancholy. To her astonishment, Ory prescribes a love affair to cure her, which leads her to confess her feelings for Isolier. But the “hermit” warns her not to get involved with the page of the libertine Ory. Thankful for his advice, the countess invites the “hermit” to the castle. They are about to leave when Ory’s tutor returns and unmasks the count—to the collective horror of Isolier, the countess, and the other ladies. When news arrives that the Crusaders are expected back in two days, Ory resolves to stage another assault on the castle before their return. INTERMISSION PRODUCTION SPONSORS Alice & John Butler° H.Gael Neeson° Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel° Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation° ° Enrique Circle Members Synopsis TIME | Long, long ago PLACE | France, a beautiful castle in the countryside