Heloise and Abelard
Opera in Three Acts
Libretto by Frank Corsaro
Instrumentation, Cast and Reviews
Excerpted Arias/Duets/Trios from Heloise and Abelard
Poignant setting of the famous and tragic love story between renowned 12th-century
scholar Peter Abelard and his young student Heloise. These lovers faced timeless
issues: passionate love, jealousy, religious infighting, the institution of marriage, and the
role of women.
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Commissioned by The Juilliard Opera Center
Premiere Performances:
April 24, 27, and 29, 2002
The Juilliard Theater at The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Conductor, Miguel Harth-Bedoya
Stage Director, Frank Corsaro
Set Designer, Franco Colavecchia
Lighting Designer, Matthew Frey
Costume Designer, Christianne Meyers
Heloise Hersind, Lauren Skuce
Peter Abelard, John Hancock
Fulbert, Richard Cox
William of Champeaux, Matt Burns
Synopsis
Setting:
Paris and the neighboring town of Argenteuil, 12th century
Prologue
1164 A.D. Night in the courtyard of the convent known as The Paraclete
The time is 1164. Heloise Hersind, Abbess of the convent known as The Paraclete ( east of
Paris some distance) is near death and waits for the delivery of the body of Peter Abelard -
her lover of long ago and husband who she has not seen for many years. Sister Berthe tries
to console her since she seems to be out of her mind.
Act One
1117 A.D. Paris – on a street near the unfinished Cathedral of Notre Dame,
in ABELARD’S study and in a private chapel in Notre Dame.
Paris - 1117. Students at the School of Notre Dame chant the name "Abelard!" as they mill
around in the courtyard. William of Champeaux, Archdeacon of Paris, argues with Canon
Fulbert that any one of his students would be better suited to teach the Canon's beautiful and
brilliant niece than the renegade scholar Abelard. Fulbert refuses to change his mind since he
wants someone famous and influential to tutor his16-year-old Heloise.
Peter Abelard - age 38 - kneels in prayer in his private study. Fulbert pays a visit to hire him
to teach the already learned and talented Heloise. He offers a religious relic - the yoke that fit
round the neck of the donkey bearing the holy family toward Bethlehem - to be more
persuasive. Fulbert sings of Heloise's substantial gifts. Abelard is reluctant to teach a woman,
but finally agrees.
On a street by the unfinished Cathedral of Notre Dame a small band is playing a popular air.
Fulbert shares with William of Champeaux the good news about his hiring of Abelard.
Jealous William tells him that he will "rue the day."
Back in Abelard's study Heloise has arrived for her first lesson and is looking about the room.
Abelard quizzes Heloise as to why she would want to study with him especially when
Aristotle stated that women are inferior in all matters of learning. Heloise is completely
irreverent and counters that in one respect she and Abelard are both equal, that being that
they are both virgins. Abelard asks her to begin with some discourse on Plato and she
responds with a tirade which belittles a long list of eminent philosophers ending with praise
for Abelard's most recent treatise. Abelard is angered that she would even know about his
treatise which is not even published. Uncle Fulbert, who has been spying, enters to smooth
things over and convince Abelard that he should continue with the lessons. He reminds
Heloise that she must be a good disciple, especially since Count Theobald has asked for her
hand in marriage.
A group of mimes are performing in the street near the scaffolding for Notre Dame. Back in
Abelard's study the lessons continue. Heloise recites verses that she has studied and
translates them - alternating with Abelard. Abelard ends the lesson complaining that he has a
headache and Heloise responds by massaging his shoulders and back. After a few moments
Abelard bids her to "Please go!"
Abelard kneels in prayer in a private chapel in Notre Dame. He struggles with the unwelcome
thoughts he is having about his star pupil. He plays a song on his lute singing - "Love me
Lord most faithfully - " and furiously breaks it off realizing that he is singing to his Lord
while thinking of Heloise. He rants about his conflicted nature when Heloise suddenly appears
for her next lesson. Abelard suggests that they discuss Ovid's favorite topic - lust. Heloise is
not sure if this is appropriate for a girl of sixteen, but Abelard grabs her. She protests saying
that "You will ruin me. Ruin yourself." Abelard tells her "We are already ruined" and kisses
her with a starving man's awkward passion. She responds slowly, but surely.
Act Two
Paris – on a street near Notre Dame, in FULBERT’S study
and in a ruined chancery at the convent at Argenteuil.
People are gathered outside Notre Dame celebrating All Fools Day - the one day all year
when everyone is allowed to "go mad" and act out different fantasies. Heloise and Abelard
are masquerading as Venus and Bacchus. A fool presides over the entire ceremony which is
very ribald and mocking. Abelard worries that William of Champeaux has recognized them
and feels that they have been reckless in their meetings. He says that he will seek permission
for her to stay at the convent at Argenteuil away from her Uncle Fulbert and that once she is
there they can continue to meet in secret. She protests, but Abelard reassures her.
William of Champeaux visits Fulbert in his study. He tells him that he has been suffering
sleepless nights from hearing some disturbing information relayed to him by the Abbess of
Argenteuil. After some unsuccessful prodding from Fulbert the Abbess is invited in by
William to tell Fulbert directly. In tears she tells him that in a deserted chapel at the convent
Heloise and Abelard "entwine their bodies in lustful exercise." Fulbert is outraged and says
that he must see for himself.
In a ruined chancery at the convent at Argenteuil the nuns sing the concluding passages of
the Vesper Service. Abelard waits in the shadows. Heloise enters breathless and kisses him.
They sing of their love and adoration for each other. Abelard stops suddenly and claims that
he hears footsteps. Heloise settles him down by caressing him and singing a melody from his
love song.
Fulbert is marching back and forth in his study in deep distress. William is urging him on and
saying that they must defame Abelard. Heloise's arrival is announced and William hides
nearby while she is ushered in. Fulbert is enraged and finally mocks her by quoting a couple
of verses from Heloise and Abelard's love song. Fulbert beats her while she berates him for
his improper advances on other occasions and tells him that she is now carrying Abelard's
child. He tells her to "Get out!" and William re-enters. William tells him of "comforts and
small pleasures yet to come" and finally convinces Fulbert that revenge is in order.
Heloise and Abelard stand before the old abandoned alter in their secret hiding place. They
profess their love to each other and Abelard proceeds to officiate the wedding ceremony. As
they consummate the wedding ceremony with a kiss four masked men and Fulbert break
into the lovers' sanctuary. Three of them drag Abelard off while the fourth holds Heloise. A
doctor enters and Fulbert instructs him to "Go and castrate our man of God!" Abelard
screams in pain. Fulbert returns with bloodied hands as Heloise curses him and cries out for
Abelard.
Act Three
Seventeen years later. The courtyard of the convent at Argenteuil
and in the garden outside the Chapel at St. Remy.
Seventeen years later at the convent at Argenteuil where Heloise has been since the castration
of Abelard she sings her lament. She is now its Prioress, but considers herself "dead and
buried to the world."
One month later - the nuns at Argenteuil are gathering in the courtyard worried about recent
events. They are being forced out of their convent for failure to pay their tithings and have
nowhere to go. Abelard appears with his fellow monks and offers his monastery - The
Paraclete - as their new home. His Brothers will help them move. He asks Sister Berthe to
find the Prioress and inform her. Heloise appears and demands to know why Abelard forced
her to become a nun, why he wrote so seldom and finally if he doesn't even care for their
son who is now seventeen. After some protesting Abelard finally breaks down and confesses
that he was insanely jealous and wanted her safely kept away from all other men so that she
would be his forever. She moves to comfort him and he flinches when she touches him. He
slowly pulls back his cassock to reveal his self-inflicted, penitential wounds. She turns and
walks away quietly singing their love song. He joins in and finally says "forgive me if you
can."
One week later in the garden outside the Chapel at St. Remy Heloise and Abelard's son,
Astrolabe has just completed his novitiate ceremony in preparation for entering the
priesthood. Abelard's sister, Denise remarks to Father Jolivet that it was "a beautiful
ceremony." Jolivet says that with hard work Astrolabe may become as famous as his father
Peter Abelard. Denise frets that the son must never know and weeps silently. Astrolabe
enters and shares his excitement that the sponsors of his ceremony - Father Abelard and the
Prioress at Argenteuil are coming to bless him today. Jolivet ushers in Heloise and Abelard
who have already arrived and they exchange excited greetings. Each then sings about his or
her own feelings. Astrolabe says "There's something in his eyes that tells me to him I am
bound." Abelard says " There's some elusive thing within that binds him to me." Heloise says
"Would that I could proclaim myself..." They are joined by Denise and Jolivet in a chorus of
"Hallelujahs" for "God's infinite gifts" and "for his mercies."
Epilogue
1164 A.D. The courtyard of The Paraclete.
1164 A.D. in the courtyard of The Paraclete. Heloise is near death as in the Prologue and is
waiting for the delivery of Abelard's body so that she may see him one last time and be
buried with him. She proclaims: "Now dear husband - for the last time I use that title. I will
not write again. Now at last you are mine. I give myself to you and know God. How sweet
is that moment, dear husband, lover, teacher, friend. Adieux Peter. Adieux." She slowly leans
over and kisses him for the final time. From all around bells are heard.
