from Act III of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Claudius, King of Denmark

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Observed by Hamlet, the King prays to his brother, asking him to forgive Claudius for killing him.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano       Fach: dramatic mezzo

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: The Queen finds Ophélie crying because Hamlet is avoiding her. Ophélie pleads with her to let her go away from the palace. But the Queen entreats her to stay for Hamlet's love for her is the only thing that can help him return to normal.

from Act V of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: A cemetary near Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Hamlet knows that Ophélie has gone mad. He figures that his cruelty towards her caused her madness and wishes that he had not treated her in this way. He hopes that she will forgive him, not knowing that she is actually now dead.

from Act III of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Hamlet sings the famous monologue "To be or not to be" in his attempt to decide whether being dead or being alive is better.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Hamlet meets with a troupe of actors that will perform a play for the court. With them, he sings a drinking song in which he calls for wine and laughter to dispel his sadness.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: Battlements of Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Hamlet has heard a report of the ghost of his father appearing on the battlements of the castle. At midnight, he goes to the battlements and invokes the spirit of his father, hoping that the ghost will appear to him.

from Act I, Scene 1 of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Laerte, son of Polonius

Voice Part: tenor

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Laerte is leaving to go abroad. In his farewell, he says that he will think of his sister Ophélie for his entire journey and, if he should not return, he wishes that she would be comforted by Hamlet. He asks Hamlet to take good care of her.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Ophélie, daughter of Polonius

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Ophélie is worried because Hamlet has been avoiding her for the last few days. She is in love with him and thought he was in love with her, but now she is not so sure. She sees him approaching and thinks that he might stay with her. He turns around when he sees her. Despairing, she decides that true love will never come to her.

from Act IV of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Ophélie, daughter of Polonius

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: A country site near a lake, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Ophélie has gone mad and believes that she is married to Hamlet. She sings a folk song about a siren that lured men into her grasp and wishes that she were her.

from Act IV of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Ophélie, daughter of Polonius

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: A country site near a lake, Denmark, 16th century

Synopsis: Ophélie has gone mad and believes that she is married to Hamlet. She sings a merry and florid waltz about nothing.