Overture
Begins with the beautiful Overture in Row. This is a lyrical melody sung by the flute in soft tones, and the theme, which is dominated by woodwinds such as the bassoon, clarinet, and oboe, overflows with innocent maidenly emotions. This music beautifully portrays Jeanne d'Arc, who gave her youth for her country.
But this music shows a strong dramatic lift when it turns into an Allegro. After returning to the original line again, the flute played an ornamented cadenza before the overture ended quietly.
Act I The forest near the village of East Lemmi, with the chapel dedicated to Our Lady in the rear
The village girls gather and sing in chorus that this place is a place of happy repose during the daytime, though monsters appear at night. Jeanne, the father and the young man Lemond come here together. The father wants his daughter to marry Lemond, but she does not agree. Lymond also said that there is no need to force, replied that "she told me that her destiny must be in accordance with the will of God". Upon hearing this, the father angrily rebuked his daughter, saying, "I know you come here every night to pray, are you not tempted by the devil?"
Then tongues of fire were spat out in the distance and alarm bells were heard. The sky turned red, and the farmers screamed, "The fire is burning," and fled. One of the farmers even shouted, "The enemy is approaching Orleans and we are about to perish!" But Jeanne d'Arc stepped forward and prophesied, "The strong enemy will be defeated near Orleans, and the enemy general Salisbury will be killed!" Thibault ordered his daughter to shut up, while the crowd was half-convinced.
At this moment, some soldiers who had broken away from the enemy came running back, and Thibault asked them what had become of Salisbury. The soldiers replied that they had been speared to death. It was then that Tibor realized that his daughter had a mysterious power and left in disgust. Surprised that Jeanne's prophecy had been fulfilled, the people joined her in a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Night came and people went home.
When Jeanne was left alone, she sang the aria "Yes, the hour has come! Joan of Arc must do God's will. But why does fear invade my heart?" In the second half of the aria, "Farewell, hills and fields of my native land", she says: "Farewell, peaceful retreats, bright valleys! Jeanne shall see thee no more, and bid thee farewell for ever!"
At that moment bells sounded in the distance, the moonlight cast its light on the earth, and the heavens parted with the voice of an angel. Telling Jeanne to forsake her worldly love, to put on her armor and go to the sands, to advance bravely with the flag of France in her hand, to bring down the enemy, and to lead King Charles to Reims so that he might be crowned. Joan of Arc rose to her feet and sang in a trance-like state, "O dreamy and mysterious destiny".
Act II The Hall of the City of Sinon
The courtiers sing, "After the years have flown by, all must go to the grave, and happiness is but a magic flower called love." When the king heard this he rebuked the song for being too sad and that everyone should be merry, and ordered a dance. At this, the gypsies, dwarfs and clowns performed a magnificent and lively ballet. The king watched with great satisfaction, and then everyone retired. The king commanded Dunoa, Duke of Orleans, to reward the dancers with money, but he replied, "Joke! The treasury is empty." Upon hearing this, Agnetha, the king's favorite, stated, "Then give them some of what I have!" And having said this, she departed.
Dunua pleaded with the king that he must not forsake the duties and rights of a king and must face his enemies with courage. The king also awakened from his life of ease and pleasure and was eager to brave the enemy and fight. At that moment, the wounded Lohre rode the earth and reported, "Our army has been routed!" Hearing this, the king lost his will to fight again and expressed his intention to flee to Luara. But Dunua said, "I will return to O'Iolian, and even if it lies in ruins, I will **** with the city!" Then he turned and departed.
Next, Agnetha appeared with a jewelry chest in her arms and sang the aria "Even if you are powerless to wipe away the shame of your country," saying that she was willing to sell all of her jewels, land, and mansion, and to stay with the king forever, no matter how poor he became. The king was y moved and held her tightly in his arms.
Then in the distance came the sound of trumpets, and the sound of the people shouting their long live. When the king was astonished and did not know what was happening, someone came and reported, "An incredible thing has happened, our army has won the battle, and the cardinal wants to advance to the emperor and explain the matter." The knights and noblewomen of the court gathered, and the cardinal made his appearance. He said, "When the French army was eating defeat suddenly a maiden came out of the street, stating that she was a holy woman sent by the Lord and was on your Majesty's side. Then, after seizing the French flag from the flag bearer, she called out to everyone to advance bravely, and the soldiers really had a lot of courage and attacked the enemy. The enemy soldiers, stunned with fear, fled in an instant.
Now the maiden was to see the king, and when the king heard this, he said to Dunoa to pretend to be the king for a time, and to mix herself with the courtiers, in order to test her prophecy and her superhuman powers. When Jeanne went out into the hall, Dunoah, despite her greetings, paid no attention to her, but went up to the king among the courtiers and knelt down. The king asked in surprise, "Have I not never seen you before? Jeanne replied, "I met you last night when His Majesty prayed to God, and if you clear the court, I can repeat the prayer." "The king said, "There is no need to clear the court; tell it all!"
Jeanne said, "There are three things in His Majesty's prayer ****. First, if it is a punishment from heaven that the situation has turned out this way, I would like to be the sacrifice alone; and second, if it is God's will that the throne be taken from me and my descendants, then leave me peace, friendship, and the love of Agnetha." The king stopped Jeanne from saying the third prayer only when he heard it, and said, "It is true that you are no mortal, and that God is with you, but who are you really? Where were you born?"
Jeanette replied, "I was born in the village of Donremy, and my name is Jeanne. When I learned that my country was being ravaged by the enemy, I prayed every night before Our Lady. After a certain night the Virgin appeared to me for three nights in succession, telling me that I must stand erect with my sword and guide the king to Reims." The people were y moved by this. The cardinal said that laymen's doubts should be muted about the will of God, and the people thanked God in unison for his magnificent grace.
The king asked again, "Can I really enter the city of Reims?" Jeanne said she would serve as guide. The king decided to give her his sword, but told her that it was hidden in the cemetery of St. Eckartrina and that she should fetch it in person, and Jeanne requested that white and purple stripes be woven into the banner. The king ordered everything to be done as the girl wished, while the crowd illustrated with a chorus that God will guide us to victory."
Act III
Scene 1 Near the battlefield, the English barracks can be seen burning in the distance Knight Lionel escapes and returns, unexpectedly bumping into Jeanne d'Arc. When Joan of Arc realizes that he, as a knight of Burgoyne, has become a traitor to the enemy, she swings her sword to teach him a lesson, quickly knocking down Lionel's sword. When she was about to stab him in the throat, she was so enamored by his handsome face that she could not bear to kill him and tried to let him escape. But Leonel fell in love with Jeanne d'Arc's face and asked her to give up her sword and run away with him.
At that moment, Dunua came flying, accompanied by native soldiers, to report the patriot's total victory. Leonel said, "I am a traitor and am now in your hands." With these words he was about to surrender his sword. Dunua did not accept it, but urged him to * * * fight for his country together in the future. At this point, as Jeanne staggered, everyone realized that she was wounded and rushed to take care of her.
Scene 2 In front of Reims Cathedral
The king's party of dignitaries walk into the cathedral, and Jeanne enters along with her, banner in hand. In order to swear an oath to the people of France that Charles was not a local king, but the official king of all France, the coronation was held in this cathedral at this time. Thibault appeared with Lymond in one piece, and in conversation his daughter was struck with evil, and was ready to return her to God.
After the coronation, the king's party came out of the church, and Thibault came out and exclaimed sharply, "My daughter has been struck by evil!" Jeanne had betrayed God by falling in love with Lionel, and no matter what her father said, she could only keep silent. The people find this astonishing, while the Cardinal states that this is malicious slander and asks Jeanne to speak in her defense, but she remains silent. Suddenly thunder and lightning struck, and the people scrambled to flee in fear.
When Jeanne was left alone, Lionel crept up to her and again tempted her to flee with him, but Jeanne said, "My soul is destroyed by you!" With that, she turned and ran off in a frenzy, and Leonella was urgently reluctant to leave.
Act IV
Scene 1 In the Deep Woods
Unable to sever her thoughts of Lionel, Jeanne breaks her vow to the gods and sings an aria spouting anguish over her love. Lionel also appears, and the two embrace each other tightly, singing a sweet duet of love together. At that moment an angelic voice comes from heaven, accusing Jeanne of being a vow-breaking, sinful woman.
She broke away from Lionel's embrace and looked up to heaven. When Lionel asked, "What are you looking at?", English soldiers suddenly appeared, shouted, "Thou betrayer," and immediately killed him. Seeing Lionel in a pool of blood, Jeanne d'Arc then knelt down and kissed him, saying, "We will meet again soon in that world," before being arrested by the enemy.
Scene 2 The square in Rouen, where the stake is being prepared
Jeanne d'Arc, recognized as a witch, is escorted out and then tied to the stake. As the crowd watches, the fire is lit, Joan of Arc prays to God, a voice from heaven says "You are forgiven", the crowd sympathizes, and the curtain falls with a chorus of angels.