Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

7. THE CROWN DIAMONDS
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Daniel François Esprit Auber
Libretto By Scribe and St George
First Produced Paris, 1841 Chief Characters Caterina, Diana, Don Henrique, Rebolledo, Don
Sebastian, Count de Campo Mayor (Minister of Secret Police)
ACT I opens on the ruins of an old castle in Portugal, near a monastery, where Don Henrique,
nephew of the Minister of Secret Police, has taken shelter during a storm, on his journey to the
capital for the coming coronation of the young Queen. He is also about to sign a marriage contract
with his cousin, Diana, daughter of the Minister of Police. As he waits in the ruins, he hears the
sound of hammers in an adjoining cave; and presently he makes the discovery that this is the haunt
of a gang of coiners and brigands. He is discovered by their leader, Rebolledo, who is about to
slay him as a spy, when he is saved by the entrance of Caterina, a beautiful young maiden, who
has the chief influence and con-trol over the brigands, and who, greatly attracted by the handsome
stranger, gives her consent to his departure. He is surprised to find that she appears to have full
knowledge of all his doings and interests. Before he has time to leave the cave, however, the royal
troops surround the place, headed by his friend, Don Sebastian; and the coiners make their escape
by disguising themselves in the garb of monks, and passing thus through the ranks of the soldiers,
who take them for a party of the holy brothers from the monastery. Caterina and Rebolledo,
however, escape by a secret passage, and take with them a box of jewels, which they guard with
much care.
In Act 2 Don Henrique is found in the Minister of Police's château at Coimbra with Diana, Don
Sebastian and the Count de Campo Mayor. The fact is soon revealed that Diana loves her cousin's
friend, Sebastian, whilst Henrique himself has thought for no one else but the strange brigand
maid, Caterina; and complications soon begin by the entrance of Caterina herself, clad in rich
garments, and accompanied by Rebolledo, who have just met with a carriage accident, and have
been brought into the château to recover. They are well received; and on being taken aside by
Caterina Henrique declares his love for her, and, though refusing to agree to his proposals for the
moment, she gives him a handsome ring as a token of her love. Presently they are disturbed by the
entrance of the Count, who is in despair because he has just discovered that the Crown Jewels
have been stolen; and Caterina's gift to Henrique being declared to be one of the lost trinkets, she
is fearful of discovery, and entreats Diana to help her. Diana consents to effect her escape, on
condition that Henrique refuses to sign their marriage contract, she herself being desirous to wed
his friend Sebastian; and upon her cousin gladly agreeing to this, Caterina is successfully
smuggled out of the château, whilst Henrique presently surprises his uncle by refusing to sign the
marriage contract when it is brought before him.
Act 3 takes place in the Royal Palace, where Henrique Sebastian, the Count and Diana are waiting
to be received by the Queen; and they are shortly joined by Rebolledo, who is introduced to them
under the name of Count Fuentes, who presently, in a soliloquy, reveals the fact that he has been
commissioned to make a mock set of the Crown Jewels, which have not been actually stolen, as
given out, but given in pledge for the National Debt. As the others retire, the Queen who is none
other than Caterina herself enters and approves of his workmanship and the carrying out of his