The creative team behind The Three Musketeers – Czech composer Jan Kučera and Canadian choreographer Paul Chalmer – invite you to experience all the intrigue, the torrid love affairs and deep loathing of Louis XIII’s court.

The production was commissioned by the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre and premièred on March 23rd, 2017 in Ostrava. Now, the ballet artists of the Latvian National Ballet present their interpretation of Alexandre Dumas’ literary masterpiece. World famous hero D'Artagnan and the three musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis bravely stand against the cunning enemy of the King’s court and prove that generosity, wit, love and friendship are the most powerful weapons in the fight against dishonesty, betrayal and the lust for power.

Synopsis

PROLOGUE

King Louis’ rooms in the royal palace

The Cardinal Richelieu plays chess with King Louis XIII. During their game, the King is enraged at Richelieu’s insinuation of the infidelity of Queen Anna with the Duke of Buckingham. Richelieu is left alone and contemplates his power over the King and his hatred of Queen Anna.

As the Prologue ends, D’Artagnan makes his way toward Paris with dreams of joining the King’s illustrious Musketeers.

ACT ONE

Scene I

Richelieu’s palace

Milady de Winter enters Richelieu’s palace to meet with him in secret. They are joined by Rochefort. They are paid by Richelieu for their services as he sends them to do his bidding. Richelieu is joined by members of his Guard.

Scene II

A hallway in the royal palace

Constance arrives to meet Queen Anna secretly and gives her a letter. They are surprised by the arrival of Richelieu. Constance hurries away. The Queen tries to conceal the letter Constance has given her. But it is too late. Richelieu has seen it. Anna loses a handkerchief Buckingham has given her, which Richelieu tears from her as she escapes. Triumphant, Richelieu now believes he has the proof he needs for his plot to destroy the Queen.

Scene III

A square in Paris outside the Musketeer’s headquarters D’Artagnan is awakened by the first rays of the morning sun as a new day begins and the great city of Paris comes to life. He is intrigued and amazed by all he sees. Milady, met by Rochefort emerges from her carriage. D’Artagnan is mesmerized by her beauty. He follows her, but Rochefort intervenes and insults him. D’Artagnan swears vengeance. The King’s famous Musketeers arrive. Porthos, Athos and Aramis are known and loved by all. In a series of awkward mishaps, D’Artagnan inadvertently manages to insult each of the three Musketeers who in turn challenge him to a duel. As the first duel commences, the Cardinal Richelieu’s Guard arrives to stop and arrest them, as duelling is now against the law by royal decree. D’Artagnan joins forces with the three Musketeers against Richelieu’s men. They defeat the Cardinal’s Guard, killing several among them. Triumphant, D’Artagnan and the Musketeers swear their friendship and hurry away.

Scene IV

Queen Anna’s apartments in the royal palace

Milady de Winter is seen secretly searching Queen Anna’s rooms for incriminating evidence. She is disturbed by the arrival of the Queen herself who, believing herself alone, reads a love letter from Buckingham. The arrival of the King is announced. He presents Anna with an extravagant gift of diamonds. Alone again, Anna, dreams of Buckingham. Upon awakening, she writes her reply to his letter. Constance is summoned to deliver the letter to him.

Scene V

A street in Paris

Constance sets out to deliver the letter but encounters Rochefort and members of the Cardinal’s Guard, who block her path and attempt to steal Queen Anna’s letter to Buckingham. D’Artagnan and the Musketeers arrive in time to save her. Her letter is restored to her and she is left alone with D’Artagnan. The first spark of love is ignited between Constance and D’Artagnan. Constance leaves in search of Buckingham. She begs D’Artagnan not to follow her.

Scene VI

Queen Anna’s apartments in the royal palace

Constance brings Buckingham to Queen Anna. Having secretly followed them, Milady now hurries to inform Richelieu. Anna urges Buckingham to leave her immediately, telling him that, although she loves him, there can be no future for them together. As proof of her love however, she gives him the diamonds given to her by the King and begs him to depart at once. Constance aids Buckingham to make his escape. She is intercepted by Richelieu who now confronts Queen Anna with her empty jewel box. Desperate, the Queen realizes her mistake and that Richelieu now holds her in his power.

ACT TWO

Scene I

The ballroom in the royal palace

As Buckingham makes his escape with the diamonds, Richelieu orders Milady and Rochefort to follow him as he sets sail for England. King Louis rehearses a new ballet divertissement with his Courtiers to be presented at a masked ball, but is interrupted by Richelieu. Showing the King Buckingham’s handkerchief, Richelieu again insists on the infidelity of the Queen. The King is furious.

Scene II

Queen Anna’s apartments in the royal palace

The Queen is consoled by Constance and her ladies-in-waiting, who are preparing her gown for the ball. The King enters with Richelieu. In a jealous rage, he demands to inspect Anna’s correspondence. Guards search her papers but find nothing. Anna surrenders the letter she has just finished writing, which is hidden in her gown. The King reads it and hands the apparently innocent letter to the disappointed Richelieu who, in a last attempt to incriminate the Queen, produces the empty jewel box as evidence. But the King has lost his patience before the box is opened. To satisfy Richelieu, the King commands Anna to wear the diamonds at the ball and leaves. The desperate Queen is consoled by Constance who assures the Queen that she knows a way to retrieve the diamonds in time for the ball. Constance takes the empty jewel box to D’Artagnan who promises to find the diamonds and save the Queen’s honour. He is joined by the Musketeers and, swearing their allegiance to the Queen, they depart in pursuit of the diamonds.

ENTR’ACTE

The Musketeers follow Milady and Rochefort, sailing a stormy sea to England in pursuit of the diamonds.

Scene III

Buckingham’s apartments in London

Buckingham is alone and thinks of Anna and at the sad impossibility of their love. He drinks wine and falls asleep by a portrait of Anna. Milady enters and the drunken Buckingham is seduced by her beauty. During their love-making, she manages to steal the diamonds from his pocket and then kills him. She is now joined by Rochefort and is about to make her escape when she is surprised by the arrival of the Musketeers. Rochefort escapes with the diamonds but Milady is cornered. She jumps from a window to her death.

Scene IV

The voyage back to Paris

D’Artagnan confronts Rochefort for possession of the diamonds. Rochefort is killed in the fight.

Scene V

The ball at the royal palace

The court assembles for the masked ball. The king arrives and dances with his courtiers. All await the arrival of the Queen. Meanwhile, D’Artagnan delivers the diamonds to the Queen and her reputation and honour are saved. The Queen arrives wearing the diamonds, to the King’s delight and Richelieu’sastonishment and fury. After the ball, Constance and D’Artagnan are finally reunited and they declare their love. Awarded a place in the King’s army, D’Artagnan now realizes his dream and joins his friends as a Musketeer.