STORY

Zémire et Azor has a libretto by Jean-François Marmontel, based on La belle et la bête (Beauty and the Beast) by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

Act I

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Sander and his assistant Ali have been stranded by a storm, and seek shelter in a sumptuous but deserted mansion. Ali is frightened and begs to leave (L’orage va cesser), but Sander replies that he fears nothing.  He feels that his life no longer has value (Le malheur me rend intrépide). A rich feast appears, so they eat and drink, and Ali’s fears are dispelled by the wine (Les esprits dont on nous fait peur). He lies down to sleep and is so comfortable that he doesn’t want to leave (Duet: Le temps est beau). Sander sees a rose bush and remembers that when he offered to bring gifts home to his three daughters, Zémire asked only for a rose.  He plucks a rose, but suddenly a severely disfigured man appears. The man, Azor, is the owner of the mansion, and threatens Sander with death for stealing the rose.  When Sander explains that the flower is for his daughter (La pauvre enfant), Azor agrees to let Sander leave on the condition that he or one of his daughters must return to the mansion. Azor warns that any attempt to break this agreement will be severely punished (Ne vas pas me tromper).

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Act II

At Sander’s house, Zémire, Fatmé, and Lisbé are waiting for their father’s return (Trio: Veillons, mes soeurs). Fatmé and Lisbé look forward to the expensive presents they asked for, and they mock Zémire for her simple request. When Sander returns with the news of his trip, Zémire comforts him with talk of the simple life they will be able to enjoy together. She sings about the beautiful rose her father brought her (Rose chérie). She sees that her father is distressed, but he refuses to tell her the reason. He sends his daughters away, and decides to rest before returning to Azor’s mansion. Zémire then persuades Ali to tell her what has happened and begs him to take her to the mansion instead of her father. Ali is afraid of being around Azor again, but finally gives in (Duet: Je veux le voir).
 

Act III

Back at the mansion, Azor laments his fate. He is resigned to live in solitude until he finds someone who loves him in spite of his appearance (Ah, quel tourment). Zémire and Ali arrive, and Zémire calmly tells Ali to go home and reassure her father (Duet: Rassure mon père). Suddenly Azor appears, and Zémire is shocked.  Over time, he calms her with his gentleness (Du moment qu’on aime). Touched by his generosity, she sings to him about a songbird in the woods (La fauvette). In return, he lets her see her family again in a vision. They are full of sadness and worry and plead with her to return (Trio: Ah, laissez-moi la pleurer). She asks Azor to be allowed to visit them and reluctantly, Azor consents. He says that if she does not return before sunset, he will know that she deserted him and he will die of grief.

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Act IV

Zémire returns to reassure her family that Azor is good-hearted and will not harm her, but Sander worries this is a trap. Zémire expresses both love for her father and loyalty to Azor (Quartet: Ah, je tremble).  As the sun sets, Azor appears to her in a vision (Toi, Zémire que j’adore). Convinced that she has forsaken him, he resolves to die.

Zémire hurries back to the mansion and searches for Azor but cannot find him.  She calls out to him and confesses her love (Azor! Azor!). Azor responds in kind and offers to share his throne with Zémire. Her family and Ali are brought back to the palace, and everyone proclaims the rewards of love and kindness.