HAMLET - AMBROISE THOMAS

 

Opera in five acts, composed by Ambroise Thomas, based on an adaptation from the play by William Shakespeare. Régis Mengus plays one of the gravediggers, who while waiting for the funeral procession of young Ophélie, ponder about the inevitable death.

 

Act 1

         

The Royal Danish Côrte is celebrating the coronation of Queen Gertrude, who married Claudius, brother of the late King. Hamlet, prince and son of the dead king, consumed by doubt rejects the union of his mother.

 

A ghost begins to haunt the outskirts of Elsinore Castle. The sentry Horace, who saw him the first time, invites Hamlet (the prince) to see that too. At night, alone on the ramparts of the castle, Hamlet meets the ghost king, who reveals that he has been poisoned by Claudius and demands vengeance for his murder. Hamlet swears to obey.

 

Act 2

          

A theater company arrives at the castle, and Hamlet asks Them to act out a play created by himself, to depict the murder of the way the king's ghost confided to him. As predicted by the Prince, at the time the crime is committed, Claudius becomes enraged, ordered the end of the staging and exit of the actors. Hamlet accuses Claudius for murdering and snatches the crown of his head.

 

Act 3

          

After reflecting on life and death, Hamlet sees Claudius, tormented by remorse, is begging, praying for the spirit of his dead brother to intercede over him with God.

 

Polonius calms the king, to Hamlet's astonishment, because he finds the father of his beloved Ophélie, was complicit in the murder. Distraught, the Prince rejects Ophélie, states that do not love her and undoes their marriage commitment.

 

Act 4

         

Ophélie gets mad. She imagines married with Hamlet and remembers the tale of a water nymph that attracts wandering men. Soon after, he puts an end to his own life.

 

Act 5

          

Hamlet Do not take notice of the death of Ophélie, yet ... He feels deep regret for the way he treated her. Remorse takes over him. Laertes, brother of Ophélie, demands revenge, the two lads two are about to duel. When is approaching at that time the funeral procession with the body of the young lady, then Hamlet Becomes aware of her death. Hurt by Laertes, he is quick to kill Claudius with his sword and dies embracing the Ophélie's body.