The Force of Destiny

The Force of Destiny is a classic work of Vodacce opera, a tour de force of how a curse cannot be avoided. Critics from other nations have sometimes found The Force of Destiny to be 'too farfetched' as the plot turns on several coincidences. Despite the attempts of the characters to hide from one another: Alvaro and Carlo become comrades in arms in the same unit, Alvaro takes shelter in the same convent that shelters Leonora. In Vodacce it is understood that fate cannot be denied.

The seeming chaos of events always points to the relentless pattern of revenge and expiation. The pervasive anxiety of the score accentuates this effect. The musical dimension reinforces a sense of connections hidden beneath the sprawl of the surface. To take a particularly chilling instance: accompanying Carlo’s cry of joy when he first learns that Alvaro has survived (so that he can fulfill his vendetta and kill him) is the same anapestic rhythm that the orchestra brutally emphasizes when he stabs Leonora in the final scene.

Major Characters

Synopsis

Act I. Alvaro tries to elope with Leonora. Their plan to run away together is discovered by Duke Calatrava. The duke does not want Alvaro as son-in-law because he is of low rank. The young man takes all the blame for the failed escape, saying the girl had nothing to do with it. He throws the pistol he was brandishing to the ground, but a shot goes off accidentally, killing the marquis. Alvaro flees. Duchess Calatrava striken with grief blames her daughter and curses her.

Act II. Leonora is searching for Alvaro. Hoping to run into him, she disguises herself as a student and goes into a tavern, but does not find him. Leonora's brother Carlo also enters the tavern. He is looking for the two lovers, whom he has sworn to kill. In anguish, Leonora seeks refuge in a convent. Welcomed by brother Melitone, she is taken before the guardian father. Only he will know her true identity. The guardian father exhorts the others not to violate the girl's secret. And seals her behind a cloistered door that none but he shall open.

Act III. Years pass. A battle rages in Princely Houses. Alvaro, under a false name, is fighting for his prince. He is convinced that Leonora is dead. In battle, he saves a compatriot: it is Carlo. Without recognising him, Carlo makes a pact of brotherhood with Alvaro. Wounded, Alvaro gives him a parcel and asks him to destroy it. Carlo discovers it contains a portrait of his sister, Leonora. He now realizes who the man is who saved him. As soon as Alvaro is better, he challenges him to mortal duel, but barely do they started crossing swords when a patrol comes by. Dueling in the ranks of the Prince's army is forbidden and both must escape or risk being arrested.

Act IV. Propelled by fate Alvaro seeks shelter at the same convent that Leonora sought disguising himself as a monk. However, no one reveals that Leonara is in hiding at the same convent. Carlo manages to find him and once again challenges him to a duel to the death. Before the fight, Raffaele unfrocks himself in order not to commit sacrilege; Alvaro wins the duel, mortally wounding Carlo. The dying man asks for a confessor, and Alvaro goes to the door of the cloistered door to look for one. It is here that Leonora resides; the two recognise each other, and Alvaro tells her the latest terrible news. She runs to her brother. With his last breath, Carlo fulfills his terrible pledge by piercing her through with his sword. Alvaro holds her as the guardian father gives her extreme unction and comforts her in her last moments.

Quotes from the Opera

Ready to go into battle and lose his life, Alvaro reminisces about his beloved and long-lost Leonora, whom he presumes to be dead.
La vita è inferno all'infelice.
Invano morte desìo!
Leonora! O rimembranza!
O, notte ch'ogni ben mi rapisti!
Sarò infelice eternamente, è scritto.
O, quando fine avran
le mie sventure!

O, tu che in seno agli angeli,
eternamente pura,
salisti bella, incolume
dalla mortal jattura,
non iscordar di volgere
lo sguardo a me tapino;
che senza nome ed esule;
in odio del destin,
chiedo anelando, ahi, misero,
la morte d'incontrar.
Leonora mia, soccorrimi,
pietà del mio penar,
soccorrimi, pietà di me! 		Life is hell for an unhappy man.
In vain I seek my death!
Leonora! Oh memories!
Oh night that robbed me of all I love!
I am doomed to eternal sorrow.
Oh, how much longer
do I have to bear my anguish!

Oh you, among the angels up high,
eternally pure,
lovely and untouched
by mortal blemish,
spare a thought for
my wretched existence;
and I, without name, without home,
defying fate,
seek the battlefield in my misery,
hoping to find death.
My Leonora, help me,
ease my pain,
help me, take pity on me!
Alvaro, having saved Carlo's life and received his pledge of brotherhood is wounded and believes he is dying. For his dying wish he entrusts the key to a slender case that contains his memories of Leonora.
Alvaro
Solenne in quest'ora giurarmi dovete
Far pago un mio voto.
Carlo (commosso)
Lo giuro.
Alvaro
Sul core
Cercate...
Carlo (Eseguisce e trova una chiave.) 
Una chiave!
Alvaro (indicando la valigia)
Con essa trarrete
Un piego celato... l'affido all'onore...
Colà v'ha un mistero, che meco morrà.
S'abbruci me spento...
Carlo
Lo giuro, sarà.
Alvaro
Or muoio tranquillo. Vi stringo al cor mio.
Carlo (Lo abbraccia con grande emozione.)
Amico, fidate nel cielo. Addio.
Alvaro
Addio. 		Alvaro
You must swear to me, in this solemn hour, 
to carry out a wish of mine.
Carlo (much moved) 
 I swear.
Alvaro
Look above 
my heart.
Carlo (He does so and discovers a key.)
A key!
Alvaro (pointing to the case)
With it you will take out
a hidden packet. I entrust it to your honour.
Within is a secret which must die with me.
Burn it when I am dead.
Carlo
It shall be done, I swear.
Alvaro
Now I can die in peace. I press you to my heart.
Carlo (embracing him with great emotion)
My friend, trust in heaven. Farewell.
Alvaro
Farewell.

Carlo having found Alvaro at last challenges him to a duel.
Alvaro Le minaccie, i fieri accenti
Portin seco in preda i venti,
Perdonatemi... pietà,
O fratel, pietà, pietà.
A che offendere cotanto 
Chi fu solo sventurato?... 
Deh, chiniam la fronte al fato,
  O fratel, pietà, pietà.
Carlo
Tu contamini tal nome...
Ah! una suora mi lasciasti
Che tradita abbandonasti
All'infamia e al disonor.
Alvaro
No, non fu disonorata,
Ve lo giura un sacerdote;
Sulla terra l'ho adorata
Come in cielo amar si puote...
L'amo ancor, e s'ella m'ama
Più non brama questo cor.
Carlo
Non si placa il mio furore
Per mendace e vile accento.
L'arme impugna, ed al cimento
Scendi meco, o traditor.
Alvaro
Se il rimorso, il pianto omai
Non vi parlano per me,
Qual nessun mi vide mai,
Io mi prostro al vostro piè.
(Eseguisce)
Carlo
Ah! la macchia del tuo stemma
Or provasti con quest'atto!
Alvaro (balzando in piedi furente)
Desso splende più che gemma...
Carlo
Sangue il tinge di mulatto.
Alvaro(non potendo più frenarsi)
Per la gola voi mentite...
A me un brando, un brando... uscite.
(Glielo strappa di mano.)
Carlo
Finalmente!...
(avviandosi)
Alvaro (ricomponendosi)
No... l'inferno
Non trionfi... Va, riparti... 
(Getta la spada.)
Carlo
Ti fai dunque di me scherno?...
Alvaro
Va.
Carlo
S'ora meco misurarti,
O vigliacco, non hai core,
Ti consacro al disonore...
(Gli dà uno schiaffo.)
Alvaro(furente)
Ah, segnasti la tua sorte!
(raccogliendo la spada)
Morte...
Ah! morte, vieni, a morte, andiam!
Carlo
Morte.., a entrambi morte.
Ah! morte, vieni, a morte, andiam! 		Alvaro Let threats and violent words 
be carried away by the winds. 
Forgive me; have pity, 
brother, have pity!
Why so insult one 
who was only unfortunate? 
Come, let us bow before fate; 
brother, have pity!
Carlo
You sully such a word. 
Ah! You left to me a sister
  who, betrayed, you abandoned 
to infamy and dishonour.
Alvaro
No, she was not dishonoured -
I swear it to you as a priest. 
On earth, I adored her 
as one can love in heaven. 
I love her still; if she still loves me, 
my heart asks for nothing more.
Carlo
My rage is not to be placated 
by lying and cowardly words; 
take up a sword, traitor, 
and do battle with me!
Alvaro
If remorse and tears 
no longer plead for me, 
I will do what no one has ever seen me do - 
throw myself at your feet! 
(He does so.)
Carlo
Ah, you have proved the stain
on your escutcheon by this act.
Alvaro (leaping to his feet in fury)
It shines brighter than a jewel.
Carlo
It is tinted with your half-breed's blood.
Alvaro (unable to restrain himself)
You lie in your throat!
Give me a sword, a sword - lead on!
(He snatches one from his hand.)
Carlo
At last!
(setting out)
Alvaro (recovering himself)
No - the devil
shall not triumph. Go, leave me.
(He throws down his sword.)
Carlo
So you mock me?
Alvaro
Go.
Carlo
If now, coward, you lack courage
to measure swords with me,
I condemn you to dishonour.
(He slaps his face.)
Alvaro (in a fury)
Ah, now you have sealed your fate!
(seizing the sword again)
Death!
Ah! death, come forth to death! Let us go!
Carlo
Death.., death to both!
Ah! death, come forth to death! Let us go!

Source

The Force of Destiny is inspired by the events and quotes are take from La Forza del Destino. However, the plotline was substainally revised and cleaned up to be more Vodacce.

7th Sea copyright Alderac Entertainment Group. Dreamlyrics copyright ASCKEY Ltd.
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