Giuseppe Verdi received a commission from Paris soon after the triumphant world premiere of Rigoletto in Venice: the Théâtre Impérial de L’Opéra wanted an opera with a libretto by Eugène Scribe. The subject matter, extraordinarily un-French-friendly, was Les vêpres siciliennes, about an historical rebellion begun by the Sicilians against their French rulers in Palermo on Easter Monday March 30th 1282 at the time of evening vespers. A completely facticious story links true, political events with a sad love story and a father/son conflict.
&nsp;&nsp;&nsp;&nsp;Hélène, mourning her brother, the Duke of Austria, who was murdered by the French, is asked to sing a song to amuse the drunks on the main square of Palermo. She uses the opportunity to call for resistence against the occupying forces. Henri, a Sicilian patriot, who has just been released from prison, seeks her out. He has no idea that his deadly enemy Guy de Montfort, under whose leadership the French conquered Sicily, is his father.
&nsp;&nsp;&nsp;&nsp;As in Simon Boccanegra and La Traviata the love between father and child vies with the love between man and woman. It culminates in tragedy because the outcome is controlled by the masses, who want revenge and not peace...