William Grant Still Exhibition
Troubled Island Scene
This scene is from the last act of Troubled Island, with
Robert Weede singing the role of Jean Jacques Dessalines. Dessalines
has fallen into a trap, during a coup, set by Stenio and Vuval, his
traitorous generals. He has arrived to put down the rebellion but
Stenio and Vuval are ready for him, arms in hand and troops at their
command. Stenio has ordered the soldiers to seize Dessalines but no
one dares touch the Emperor. Stenio and Jean Jacques draw their
swords and fight. Dessalines is winning the battle and strikes
Stenio's sword from his hand, but Vuval emerges from his hiding place
and shoots Jean Jacques in the back. As he falls, Dessalines turns
and faces the man who betrayed him. As the opera ends the body of the
man who had been acclaimed liberator of the slaves and Emperor of the
blacks lies alone in the square, with Haiti still a Troubled
Island.
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Materials from Special Collections Library, Duke University
A project of The Digital Scriptorium,
Special Collections Library, Duke University. September 1995
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sgo/