The Sicilian Vespers

Verdi’s enthralling tale of loyalty and revenge unfolds against the backdrop of opulent 19th-century Paris.

Sicily is living under French occupation. Hélène, a Sicilian noblewoman, seeks revenge for her brother’s execution at the hands of the French. Meanwhile her lover, Henri, is torn between his Sicilian roots and his loyalty to Montfort, the French governor – whom he learns is his father. As the young couple’s romance begins to fracture and political tensions rise, the Sicilians plot a rebellion against their French occupiers, culminating in a climactic confrontation during the evening prayers.