This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... il trovatore (El Tro-vah-to'-rd) (the Troubadour) italian tragic grand opera, after a Spanish drama of the same name by Antonio Garcia Gatteerez. Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Book by Salvatore Cammarano. First production, Rome, 1853. The scene is Biscay and Aragon in the fifteenth century. characters Count Di Luna, a powerful young noble of the Prince of Aragon Baritone Ferrando, a captain of the guard of Count di Luna.... Bass Manrico, a young chieftain under the Prince of Biscay, and reputed son of Azucena Tenor Ruiz, a soldier in Manrico's service Tenor An Old Gypsy Baritone Duchess Leonora, lady in waiting to an Aragon Princess Soprano Inez, confidant of Leonora Soprano Azucena, a wandering Biscayan gypsy Mezzo-Soprano Followers of the Count di Luna, a messenger, a jailer, soldiers, nuns, gypsies, and attendants. Act I. In a vestibule of the Aliaferia Palace the soldiers and retainers of Count di Luna are awaiting his coming, and Ferrando is telling them the story of the count's younger brother. While yet a babe in his cradle his nurse one day surprised an old gypsy woman sitting by his side and looking at him malevolently. Gypsies were then regarded with superstitious terror, and when the child began to be sickly the present count's father searched for the gypsy and she was burned at the stake for witchcraft. She had a daughter, who sought revenge. That night the ailing child disappeared and among the embers of the fire were found the bones of a babe. Ferrando's story is received with horror, and the soldiers denounce and curse the gypsy, while the captain of the guard prays that he may yet come across her. He tells how the old count died, unbelieving that it was his child that was burned, and making his son promise to search for his...