F Poulenc Dialogues des Carmélites Act 3 with score

Scene 1: 0:00
Interlude 1: 7:20
Scene 2: 11:07
Scene 3: 17:21
Interlude 3: 27:09
Scene 4: 28:57

[charlessmith]

28:48 point - the scariest moment of the opera, where all of the condemned Carmelites face their guillotine beheading, one by one. As you hear the blade go you feel for every Carmelite that is executed.

One lone female helper of the Carmelites can only watch the unthinkable done to her Carmelite friends. After the last Carmelite is executed, she believed that no one else will be in her place to continue her devout Catholic faith, so in honor of that faith, she does an extremely brave deed. Although not accused as an enemy of the Republic like the other ladies did---she decides to end her life by going to the guillotine and end up beheaded herself.

[charlessmith]

28:48 - You see the French word "l'echafaud", which is similar to "le supplice", and it means "the scaffold." Sometimes known as "the gallows" by some people, where outdoor public executions take place.