LA ESMERALDA – CESARE PUGNI

Duration: 1 hour and 52 minutes (without intermission)

Synopsis
(according to Victor Hugo’s Novel “Notre Dame de Paris”)

Act I

The tired mother Gudule falls asleep and the Gypsies steal her little daughter. On the square in Paris,the hunchbackQuasimodo is chosen as the father of the shoots, for their holiday. Gypsies gather on the square and Esmeralda begins her provocative dance. Claude Frollo, the archdiocese of the church, watches her with passion. Esmeralda, raising money, frantically stands in front of an old woman. That’s Gudule. Claude Frollo orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda. At her screams Captain Phoebus comes and saves her, he releases Quasimodo, and Esmeralda glances into Phoebus.

Phoebuses wedding with Claire de Liss. Phoebus sees Esmeralda with the  gypsies and invites them into the castle. Esmeralda is happy and excited, she starts her dance, and Phoebus joins her.

Act II

Tavern at night. Gypsies play. Phoebus comes and there is Quasimodo. Phoebus and Esmeralda go behind the door, and at the same time comes Claude Frollo. While hugging Esmeralda, Phoebus is stabbed with a knife. The killer hides and Quasimodo raises the knife and realizes that the killer is Claude Frollo. Esmeralda is charged with murder. Claude Frollo offers her a rescue in return for her love. Esmeralda’s punishment is being prepared on the square. Gudule recognizes her daughter and accuses Gypsies of stealing. She dies. Quasimodo takes Esmeralda and brings her to the church, but Claude Frolow returns her to the executioner. Quasimodo in rage pushes Claude Frollo out of the church tower.