Andrea Chénier at Kungliga Operan AB

The poet Chénier is fighting for freedom, love and poetry. The butler Gérard becomes a revolutionary leader to avenge the oppression and injustice. Both love Madeleine, a spoiled aristrocrat, whose life changes when she is thrown out in to the "terror" of Paris and experiences both human wretchedness and sacrifice. The revolution devours its own children and the lovers marches to the guillotine accompanied by a high C.

Giordano's opera is a large fresco of the French Revolution, its hopes and horrors depicted in bright, vivid images with a gallery of intriguing minor characters.