【Andrea Chénier】Synopsis, Character Map

Old Father. You have served arrogant people. And as if you had not suffered enough, you have passed on the same suffering to your children.

Son sessant’anni, o vecchio

Maddalena is the only salvation in all this suffering.

La comtesse di Coigny
Maddalena. Hurry up and get dressed.

La comtesse di Coigny
Your muse says nothing?

She is silent.

I’ll let him recite his poetry. Want to make a bet?

Please forgive my rudeness. I would like to hear your poems. I prefer poems for nuns and brides.

It is a modest wish. But I cannot compose a poem, even if it is an order or a wish. Poetry is capricious. Like love.

My mother asked him to read a poem and he refused. So we bet on what he would say about love. He called the muse and the muse said the words out of his mouth. Anyone could have said love to me without the muse.

You have hurt me.

One day I looked at the blue sky and wanted to pray to God. When I went to church, the priest stole the offerings and was deaf to the voices of the poor. I saw people suffering. Even children suffer. What do the descendants of the nobility do when they see such suffering?

(To Maddalena) Only you seemed human in this place. But you have profaned love.

Love is a gift from God.

Un dì all’azzurro spazio

Please forgive me.

La comtesse di Coigny
He’s weird. Come on, let’s dance.

La comtesse di Coigny
Someone get these people out of here! Gérard, you’ll be the first to go.

I don’t need servant clothes!

The Incredible
Have you any reason to fear me?

Bersi
Afraid? Why? I am not afraid of anything. On the other side there is death and intrigue, but on this side there is money and pleasure.

Vivere in fretta

The Incredible
She must be with the blonde I am looking for. The fact that she tried to get close to him is proof of that.

Roucher
You are not safe here. Run far away.

I believe in the power of miracles. I don’t care if it’s good or bad. I am here for love. I have received many letters from strange women.

Credo a una possanza arcana

Roucher
The letter smells of roses. It is a letter from a prostitute.

The Incredible
Is the woman you’re looking for Blonde hair?

A woman with blue eyes and golden hair. Please help me find her.

The Incredible
You’ll see her tonight.

Bersi
A woman will visit you tonight.

Tell me her name.

Bersi
Her name is Hope.

I’ll wait for her.

Roucher
It could be a trap.

I’ll bring a weapon.

Roucher
I will watch over him.

Still no one. It’s him. Andrea Chénier!

Ecco l’altare

Who are you?

Love is a gift from God.

Maddalena.

Did you write to me?

You are my emotional support. I have never asked you for help before. Someone has been chasing me for a month. Will you protect me?

Eravate possente

It’s a moment of love. We will be together until death.

(To Roucher) Help her.

(To the Incredible) Follow her.

Are you Chénier? Run. Your name is on the list. Protect Maddalena.

Who did this to you?

I don’t know.

France is now in danger. I want you to give your money and your children to France. We must fight other countries!

Madelon
I am an old Madelon. My son and my son’s children died in the revolution. This boy is the last of my son’s children. Please don’t tell me he’s a boy. He will fight to the end.

Son la vecchia Madelon

We accept him into our army.

The Incredible
Chénier has been arrested. She should come to you and ask you to save his life. He has been alienated by the officials. You can write his name on this paper.

Enemies of the Fatherland? Old-fashioned, but people like it. He was foreign-born, a soldier, and he put a spell on people.

I could believe I was strong, even in the midst of suffering. Oh, I remain a servant. Once I obeyed nobility, now I obey my own violent passions. It is love, ironically, that has changed me in this way.

Nemico della patria

You don’t remember me, do you?

I have been looking for you. I have longed for you since I was a child. What do you say to my love?

I choose to die.

You should not die. You are mine.

You desire me, do you not? I am willing to give you my body to save his life.

Do you love him that much?

My mother died to protect me. When I fell ill, my maid sold her body for mine. I bring misery to those I love. In my despair, I remembered his love poem. Love saved me.

La mamma morta

I will try to save him. But there are many who resent him.

I was a soldier. I fought with a pen. I was a lover of my country, not a traitor.

Si, fui soldato

I will testify. The charges against him are false.

On a beautiful May day, wind and sunshine will disappear into the sky. With words and poetry I will rise to the extreme. Before death, O last goddess, give the poet dazzling ideas.

Come un bel dì di maggio

There is a young woman on death row here, isn’t there? I will take her place. You take this jewel and pretend not to know.

I must save them.

My soul is comforted by your side.

Vicino a te

I will die with you.