Opera in 3 acts
Libretto by the composer (based on Georges Bernanos & Gertrud von le Fort)
World premiere January 26 1957, La Scala Milan
This production first seen June 20th 2021
Sung in French with German & English surtitles
an introductory talk starts in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before performances begin, is available here and everywhere podcasts can be found
Background Blanche de la Force suffered mysterious panic attacks from an early age. Were they triggered by the circumstances surrounding her birth? The Marquise de la Force, Blanche's mother, was pregnant with Blanche when she got caught up in a violent uprising in her car. She only just managed to escape. The shock brought on a premature birth, and she died. ACT 1 Sc. I The Chevalier de la Force, Blanche's brother is worried by news that his sister's car was surrounded by a crowd. Their father isn't; but the incident reminds him of his wife's death. Blanche comes home and goes to her room to try and to come to terms with what just happened. She's frightened out of her wits by the servant Thierry's shadow on the wall. Confronted by her fears again, she tells her father she wants to enter a convent. The only place she might find peace of mind. Sc. II Blanche asks Madame de Croissy, the aging Prioress of the Carmelites of Compiègne, to accept her as a novice. The order's strict rules don't put her off, they only strengthen her resolve. She wants to be called »Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ«. Sc. III Banche gets to know happy-go-lucky Sœur Constance, who seems to have no fear of death at all. Sc. IV Despite her faith, Madame de Croissy is overwhelmed by fear on her deathbed. Mère Marie gets into a terrible state about the dying woman's godless words. The old Prioress blesses Blanche for the last time, telling Mère Marie to take her under her wing, as the newest member of the community. M. Javelinot, the doctor, refuses to give the ill woman more medication to ease her pain and fears. The Prioress forsees the devastation of the convent in a vision. Blanche, whom she has summoned to her bedside again, witnesses her agonising death. ACT 2 Sc. V Sœur Constance and Blanche are keeping vigil by the dead Prioress' coffin. Blanche, left alone, panics. Mère Marie reprimands her. While arranging flowers for the old Prioress' grave Constance wonders aloud, while talking to Blanche, if one can die another person's death. Both hope Mère Marie will be chosen as the new Prioress. Sc. VI Madame Lidoine is named Prioress instead of Mère Marie. She gives her first talk, stressing the importance of prayer. The Chevalier de la Force asks at the convent gate to be allowed to visit his sister. The Prioress makes an exception and grants permission, telling Mère Marie to listen in on their conversation. Sc. VII The Chevalier's going abroad to try and undermine the new regime from there. He hopes he can persuade Blanche to go home to their father, who's all alone. The intimacy of their childhood has gone. Verging on hostility, Blanche insists she wants to stay in the convent out of a sense of duty, not fear. She breaks down when her brother leaves. Mère Marie comforts her, saying that she did the right thing. INTERVAL Sc. VIII The Carmelites' confessor says his last mass. As a priest, he's a wanted man. He tells them he'll try and avoid arrest by wearing civilian clothing, and stay nearby. Blanche worries about what will happen to him, while Constance is infuriated by the cowardly French leaving their priests in the lurch. The new prioress contradicts Mère Marie vehemently when she hints that the nuns should prepare themselves for martyrdom. She then leaves, because she has to go to Paris. The priest bursts in; he ran into a crowd and needs to hide. Two commissioners force their way in, announcing the expulsion of the nuns from the convent, and the dissolution of all convents and monasteries. Blanche seeks consolation from the »Little King«; this statue of baby Jesus is carried into every cell at Christmas. The shock of suddenly hearing the song of revolution outside the convent walls makes it fall out of her hands and it shatters to pieces; the sisters are horrified. ACT 3 Sc. IX The Carmelites may no longer profess their religion. Mère Marie suggests that they make a stand and take a vow of martyrdom, as long as all the sisters agree. Their priest will supervise the ballot. There's one vote against; Constance thinks it must have been Blanche's, but claims it was hers, declaring that she regrets her decision and is now ready to join the others in martyrdom. Blanche tries to run away. An officer announces that the nuns must return to civilian life. Madame Lidoine is back and wants to warn the priest not to come any more. Mère Marie thinks her caution is redundant in view of the vow they took in her absence. The Prioress disagrees; but what is done is done. She intends to be there until the end for the sisters, for whom she is responsible. Sc. X Mère Marie meets Blanche, whose father has been guillotined. Although she's been humiliated working as a maid for her former domestics she still doesn't want to return to her sisters. Blanche's past catches up with her with increasing intensity. Sc. XI The nuns have been arrested for alleged counter-revolutionary activities. A jailer reads out the death sentence. The Prioress tries to console them. Mère Marie, who was absent when they were arrested, finds out from the priest, who's on the run, that the sisters face execution. He stops her when she thinks she should go and join the condemned Carmelites. Sc. XII Blanche is at rock bottom. She can only go on living if she faces her fears and, bit by bit, shake off what haunts her. Can she?
Blanche de la Force started suffering from mysterious panic attacks from an early age. Were the circumstances of her birth to blame? Her mother was heavily pregnant when her car got caught up in a violent uprising. It led to a premature birth, she died. Blanche thinks she’s found a way of life that suits her at last in a Carmelite convent. She sees the staunchly religious prioress overcome by terror on her deathbed. Her fears catch up with Blanche again – before her fellow nuns being martyred by the guillotine changes everything. After having run away, she joins the procession, led by revolutionaries, to the scaffold: Her fear gone. A harrowing final scene, that leaves nobody unmoved. Georges Bernano took up Gertrud von le Fort’s 1931 version of the real story in 1947 for a screenplay. His dialogues served the composer for his opera’s libretto. Claus Guth created a vivid parable, revealing Blanche’s soul to us.
