Line #32 Theatre/AndreaChenier


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4	''Andrea Chénier'' is a verismo opera by Umberto Giordano, with a libretto by Luigi Illica (famous also for his work with Music/GiacomoPuccini), first performed in 1896. The plot is based on the life of a poet André Chénier who was guillotined in 1794 during the UsefulNotes/FrenchRevolution.
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6	There is the usual tenor-soprano-baritone love triangle, with Chénier falling in love with Maddalena de Coigny, a young countess, who is forced to go into hiding after the revolution breaks out. Meanwhile, Gérard, formerly a servant at the Coigny household and now one of the revolutionary leaders, has also loved Maddalena since childhood, and it induces him to write down charges against the poet, effectively dooming him to the guillotine. However, when Maddalena comes to plead for her beloved, Gérard is overcome with remorse and tries to help Chénier, but in vain – the latter's sentenced to death. Maddalena switches places with a condemned noblewoman and goes to the guillotine with her beloved.
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8	!! The opera contains examples of:
9	* AdaptationExpansion: There is a photo novel based on the opera (and starring Corelli), which deviates from its storyline a lot, introducing Maddalena’s father (a DisappearedDad in the original), a spy subplot involving Chénier, Bersi being in love with Chénier but deciding on IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy, and many more new plot elements.
10	* AdaptationalSecrecyDowngrade: In the opera, Maddalena is absolutely shocked when Gérard spells it out that he is her StalkerWithACrush and has been since he was a servant at her parents' household. In the photo novel, Maddalena is very much aware of his desire for her even before the Revolution unfolds: she senses him getting more touchy-feely with her than it's appropriate (both for a servant towards a lady in the 18th century and for a man towards a girl who clearly shows he makes her uncomfortable).
11	* BeneathNotice: The servants' fate at the de Coigny household.
12	* BigotWithACrush: Gérard, a servant at the de Coigny household, hates the aristocracy and wants to execute them all, except for Maddalena de Coigny with whom he is madly in love. His {{Yandere}} attempt to get her after a FullCircleRevolution, however, is what leads to her getting executed.
13	* BreakTheCutie: Maddalena starts as a WideEyedIdealist without a care in the world. It gets... very much worse.
14	* CelebrityParadox: The character of Gérard is based on the real-life figure of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Lambert_Tallien Jean-Lambert Tallien]], but Tallien himself also exists in the opera’s universe.
15	* TheCorrupter: Gérard isn't exactly an embodiment of virtue by himself, but he commits his worst act in the opera (trying a ScarpiaUltimatum on Maddalena) after being persuaded to do so by the Incroyable.
16	* EvilSoundsDeep: Played with concerning TragicVillain Gérard (a baritone). However, the really nasty Incroyable is a character tenor.
17	* FullCircleRevolution: As Gérard puts it, "the revolution devours its children".
18	* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Maddalena in the beginning, being a golden-haired kindhearted ingenue.
19	* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Bersi, Maddalena's former maidservant, turns to prostitution to support herself and Maddalena after the revolution.
20	* HopeSpot: The moment when Maddalena forgives Gérard, and the latter enthusiastically proclaims he will certainly save Chénier.
21	* InnocentlyInsensitive: Both Maddalena and her mother towards the lower classes in the beginning.
22	* KilledOffscreen: Maddalena's mother, who was killed at the door to her daughter's room as the rebels torched the estate.
23	* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Gérard, who even lampshades it when confessing his feelings to Maddalena.
24	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Gérard realizes just how low he had sunk when Maddalena offers herself to him in exchange for Chénier's life.
25	* ObliviousToLove: For twenty-odd years (although how much of it is [[{{Yandere}} love]] can be called into question). Even after Gérard grabs Maddalena in the second act (shouting her name in the process), she doesn't realize what (whom) he's after.
26	-->'''Maddalena''': I don't know if you still remember me. I'm Maddalena de Coigny.
27	-->'''Gérard''': I have waited for you! I have arrested your lover to lure you to me!
28	-->'''Maddalena''': Why, then, do you want me here?
29	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The opera opens with Gérard declaring that all AristocratsAreEvil and therefore must die.
30	* RecycledPlot: Has numerous similarities with ''Theatre/{{Tosca}}'', and the librettist is the same.
31	* ScarpiaUltimatum: As some critics dub it, the trial run for the TropeNamer. Subverted, as Gérard [[NearRapeExperience backs away]] at the last moment.
32	** And it's discussed by the Incroyable as he convinces Gérard to go through with ordering Chénier's arrest.
33	* ShipTease: Some stagings include flirting between the Incroyable and Bersi. Whether either of them is trying to [[HoneyTrap seduce the other to get them to lower their guard]], the Incroyable is doing it as part of his FauxAffablyEvil nature, or there is some [[FoeRomanceSubtext genuine attraction between the two]] (or there is some combination of the above options) can be interpreted differently by different directors and performers.
34	* StalkerWithACrush: In the first act, Gérard watches Maddalena getting dressed for the ball. In the third, we learn it was far from the only time.
35	* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Swings between that and FriendlyEnemy with the male leads. Gérard and Chénier are in complete agreement concerning the true revolutionary ideals, but Gérard is insanely jealous of him and Maddalena.
36	* TheTragicRose: Maddalena is sometimes associated with roses.
37	** She wears a rose to the ball in the first act.
38	** Gérard associates their childhood games with the wild roses' smell.
39	* ThenLetMeBeEvil: Gérard arrives at this conclusion by the end of his famous third-act aria. The revolution is all blood and gore, he has forsaken his high goals for personal ambition, he’s planning to send an innocent man to the guillotine and force himself on the man’s girlfriend – oh well, whatever, one can’t fight fate. He [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor regrets it later]], though.
40	* TogetherInDeath: Chénier and Maddalena are executed together.
41	* UndyingLoyalty: Bersi actively helps Maddalena, even though, after the Revolution, nothing stops her from leaving the girl.
42	* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Gérard for Maddalena. He has been in love with her since childhood, while she is at best sorry for him and falls in love with Chénier.
43	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: "Long live Gérard!" Not surprising, since he is an AntiVillain who genuinely sympathizes with the commons.
44	* VillainousAdviceSong: The Incroyable's ''Donnina innamorata''. "There are two parts in a woman: the body and the heart. Settle for the body, it's the better one!"
45	* VirginInAWhiteDress: Maddalena's innocence in the first act is emphasised by the simple white dress she decides to wear to the ball.
46	* WarriorPoet: Chénier. "Yes, I was a soldier" is the start of his defense speech, and he's definitely no wimp.
47	* WhosLaughingNow: Gérard's confession to Maddalena, apart from expressing his passion for her, is also this – he revels in the thought of finally being the one in power.
48	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Gérard. From a downtrodden servant to one of the revolutionary leaders.

Context Theatre / AndreaChenier