Prima Donna

ACT I

Early morning in Régine Saint Laurent’s Paris apartment. It is July 14 – the national day of France.

Régine (La Prima Donna) wakes up after a troubled night’s sleep. Her new maid, Marie, speaks to her about her drunken, violent husband while Régine agonizes over returning to the stage after a six-year-long break. She speaks of the role of her life, as Aliénor, the strong and powerful Queen of France and England, in an opera written for her when she was at the peak of her career.

Régine’s butler, Philippe, enters with his assistant François. It upsets Philippe to see Régine and Marie together when Régine should be preparing for an interview with a journalist, which has escaped her mind. After Philippe has sent Régine off to get changed, François helps him to prepare for the meeting. Philippe becomes nostalgic for the old days of splendour and fame, now only a distant memory. He swears that everything will get better and that he will never again let the situation get out of his hands.

The sound of the doorbell announces the arrival of the journalist, André Letourneur. Régine makes a flamboyant entrance.

Régine becomes emotional when André asks her about Aliénor d’Aquitaine, her very last performance. André sees more than the legend he has admired ever since he studied to become a tenor at the conservatory. He urges her to resume her singing career. She sits at the piano and together they sing the iconic lovers’ duet from Aliénor d’Aquitaine. When they reach the passionate climax Régine’s voice breaks.

Philippe intervenes, and they all agree that Régine needs a rest. André says he will return later that evening.

An unexpected moment occurs between Régine and André witnessed by Marie who has lingered in the room. With unease, she notices how Régine is filled with new hope for the future.

ACT II

Evening

Preparations for the national day celebrations are underway. Marie sings of the simple life at home in Picardie. She compares the naivety of youth with the hectic and materialistic life in Paris.

As Régine warms up her voice she tries to understand what went wrong during the interview. When she is on her own, she can reach that coveted high note, but each time she tries to find a deeper meaning and attempts to express it she fails. In order to be able to sing Aliénor, or any other role, ever again, she will need to listen to a recording she has never dared to hear. She thinks about what has been as she grapples with her low confidence and her nerves. Finally, as she listens to the legendary recording, she is transported back in time to when she performed the lovers’ duet for the first time.

King Henry II of England from Aliénor d’Aquitaine enters the garden in the shape of André and declares his love for the queen. Régine becomes Aliénor and performs the magic scene to perfection. Then Régine wakes up from her reveries, realizing that she cannot repeat her earlier success and that she will never again return to the stage.

Philippe’s world falls apart, and he decides to vanish from Régine’s life just as the doorbell announces the journalist’s return.

André delivers an unwelcome surprise: he is engaged to be married, and he has brought his fiancée along. André asks Régine for a final favour: could she please sign his copy of Aliénor d’Aquitaine?

La Prima Donna signs her last autograph, then she steps out on the balcony alone as the July 14 fireworks light up the sky.

We recommend that you arrive at least half an hour before the performance begins. If you can arrive earlier, it's even better: 45 minutes before the start of the performance, there is a free audience introduction in the Golden Foyer - an excellent way to approach the performance! Please note that once the performance has started, no one will be allowed into the hall until after the first intermission.

We have put together some useful tips for your visit. Otherwise, our best advice is to arrive on time - discover the Opera House, leave your coat in the cloakroom, eat or drink something. AND, ask our ushers - they'll be happy to help! Outerwear and bags should be left in the cloakroom for safety and evacuation reasons.

You can rebook tickets yourself on the website up to 24 hours before the start of the performance within the the current season. Tickets cannot be cancelled (read more in our general terms and conditions).

Of course you can! Our partner Restaurang Grodan is on the ground floor facing Strömgatan - take the opportunity to book a table ahead of your visit! Each floor also has a service with drinks and snacks, at the stalls' café there is a slightly larger selection. We advice you to pre-book the intermission service so it is ready and waiting for you during the interval!