High Life

HIGH LIFE #14 Nov 2017 113 On the eve of the Revolution, act one depicted a Rococo world in which the indulgent aristocracy was oblivious to the socio-political upheaval brewing on the horizon, attending what would be their last ball at the Countess of Coigny’s château. Behind the façade of carefree merriment was simmering anger and bitterness, shared by majordomo Carlo Gérard (Italian baritone Roberto Frontali) and poet Andrea Chénier (Uruguayan tenor CarloVentre), aswell as the sans-culottes in abject poverty. European powers formed the First Coalition against the French First Republic, aiming to crush the Revolution. Fearful of enemieswithin andwithout, France descended fromanarchy to the Reign of Terror in act two. Chénier was wanted by the CommitteeofPublic Safety, headedbythe fearsomeMaximilien de Robespierre, a Montagnard (radical left-wing authoritarian). Chénier had refused to flee with a fake passport, for he was in love with a mysterious woman with whom he corresponded, later revealed to be Maddalena di Coigny (Hungarian soprano Csilla Boross), daughter of the Countess. Chénier wounded the pursuing Gérard in a sword fight and a full-scale manhunt of the Girondins (centre-right liberal conservative) ensued. Gérard appealed to the people to donate to the RevolutionaryArmyand in themostmoving scene inact three, a blind elderlywoman had nothing to give but her last remaining grandson, whomshe tearfully kissed goodbye. Gérard prepared charges against Chénier hoping that Maddalena, whom he loved, would appear. She pled for Chénier’s life and rebuffed his advances; he tried towithdrawthe indictment andevenpetition Robespierre,butwastoolateandtheverdictattheRevolutionary Tribunal was never in doubt. Opting to die alongside Chénier, Maddalena changed places with a condemned noblewoman at Prison Saint-Lazare and the powerless couple was crushed under the relentless wheel of history in act four. Beyond the stage, Robespierre would be overthrown in the Thermidorian Reaction merely three days later. Tragedy befell all.