from Act II of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Alphonse XI (Alfonso XI), the king of Castile

Voice Part: baritone

Setting: the gardens of the king's palace, Castile, Spain, circa 1340

Synopsis: The king sings of his love for his mistress, Léonore.

from Act IV of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Fernand (Ferdinand), a young novice at the monastery of St. James of Compostella

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: the monastery of St James of Compostella, Castile, Spain, circa 1340

Synopsis: Not knowing that Léonore is the "favorite" of King Alphonse, Fernand asks the king for her hand in marriage and receives it because he has led Castile to victory in battle over the Moors. Thinking that his bride is pure, he prepares to marry her. However, before she appears, he finds out that she has been the lover of the King. With his heart broken, he returns to the monastery and mourns for the betrayal of his love and the loss of Léonore.

from Act I, scene 2 of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Fernand (Ferdinand), a young novice at the monastery of St. James of Compostella

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: the island of St Léon, Castile, Spain, circa 1340

Synopsis: Fernand has met Léonore, whose beauty has caused him to renounce his vows to the monastery and travel to the palace in hopes of meeting his love. Léonore is also taken with Fernand but, unfortunately, she is the mistress of the king and tells him that any relationship between the two of them would end badly. To help him out, though, she has acquired him a commission in the king's army. He exults over this chance, anticipating the impressive deeds that he will accomplish. He hopes that his imminent glory will cause Léonore to change her mind about their relationship.

from Act I, scene 1 of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Fernand (Ferdinand), a young novice at the monastery of St. James of Compostella

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: the monastery of St James of Compostella, Castile, Spain, 1340

Synopsis: Fernand tells Balthasar, the Father Superior of the monastery, that he would like to renounce his vows because he has fallen in love with a woman. Although he doesn't know anything about her, he does know that she is young and beautiful like an angel and that he cannot get her out of his thoughts.

from Act I, scene 2 of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Inès (Inez), Leonora's confidante

Voice Part: soprano

Setting: the island of St Léon, Castile, Spain, circa 1340

Synopsis: Inès and the other women sing about the beauty of their surroundings and how it inspires love to blossom.

from Act III of the French|Italian opera La Favorite (La Favorita) by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Alphonse Royer

Role: Léonore de Guzman (Leonora di Gusman), the mistress of Alphonse (Alfonso), king of Castile

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: a room in the king's palace, Castile, Spain, circa 1340

Synopsis: Léonore is in love with and loved by Fernand, formerly a novice at a monastery and currently an officer in Spain’s army. Fernand is granted a reward by the king for his valor in battle, and not knowing that she is the king's "favorite", Fernand asks for her hand in marriage, which the king grants. Leonore is willing to sacrifice her own happiness to ensure Fernand's, and decides to let him know the truth.