Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

First Produced Paris, 1807
Chief Characters Joseph, Simeon, Benjamin, Jacob, Utobal
THE story of this simple but impressive opera follows very closely upon the Biblical narrative.
Joseph has been sold into Egypt by his brothers; and having saved the country from famine by his
wise forethought he has become the chief governor of Pharoah. In Act 1 he is seen in all his glory,
treated with the highest honour, and known by the name of Cleophas; but in spite of his wonderful
fortune, luxury, and great power, he still pines for the home of his childhood, and for the love of
his old father Jacob, and his favourite brother, Benjamin. He relates to his attendant, Utobal, the
story of the cruel treatment meted out to him by the jealous brothers; and whilst they talk news
comes of the arrival of a party of strangers, who have come to buy corn. Joseph at once recognises
the strangers as his own brothers; but he does not reveal himself to them yet. He soon sees with
pleasure that they are now filled with remorse for their cruel treatment of him; and Simeon, in
particular, is so weighed down by his guilty conscience that he is always grieving. Joseph gives
instructions for the brothers to be well cared for; and after feasting them he accompanies them in
Act 2 to the Hebrew camp, where his deep emotion on beholding his old father, Jacob, and his
young brother, Benjamin, once more, and learning from them how their hearts still yearn for the
lost Joseph, almost causes him to betray himself. He manages, however, to hide his feelings, and
insists on the whole family returning with him to his palace for a great banquet he has ordered to
be prepared. In Act 3 we see the guests arriving, the old, blind patriarch, Jacob, led tenderly by the
young Benjamin; and the other brothers all follow after, and take their places at the feast. Simeon,
however, is now tormented by remorse for his evil deed, the memory of which has been so sharply
revived by the close questions of the great Egyptian Governor; and at last, unable to bear his guilty
conscience longer, he approaches his father, and makes a full confession of the selling of his
brother Joseph. On hearing this, old Jacob is filled with anger and horror at such a heartless crime;
and he pours out upon the brothers his solemn patriarchal curse. At this moment, however, Joseph
reveals his true identity, and magnanimously entreats his father to forgive the brothers, and to
remove the curse he has uttered. Jacob very gladly does so; and the opera closes with the joyful
reunion of the family and their hymn of praise and thanks to God for His wonderful goodness in
the preservation of the lost Joseph in the land of Egypt.
101. LAFRICAINE
Grand Opera in Five Acts By Giacomo Meyerbeer
Libretto By Scribe
Chief Characters Selika, Inez, Vasco di Gama, Don Pedro, Nelusko
THE action takes place first in Portugal and after in Africa, the period being towards the end of the
fifteenth century. Inez, daughter of the King of Portugal, is affianced to the great explorer, Vasco
di Gama; and on the opening of the opera she is bewailing his long absence from her side. Her
royal father wishes her to forget the explorer, declaring that he must now be dead, since nothing
has been heard of him for so long a time; and he expresses his wish that she should marry his chief
minister, Don Pedro, who is in love with her. Inez, however, declares she will remain faithful to
her lover; and she is presently overjoyed by the sudden appearance of Vasco di Gama, who has
just returned. He brings news of a new and wonderful country he has discovered, and produces