Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

determination to die rather than be separated, he announces on his return that they are free to
depart to their own land once more. Osmin is disappointed and full of wrath at losing the pretty
Blonda, who, however, very gladly departs with her sweetheart, Pedrillo; but Selim Pasha
generously wishes the happy lovers, Belmonte and Constanza, joy in their union, entreating them
to regard him ever as their friend.
115. THE PIPER OF HAMELYN
Fantastic Opera in Five Acts By Victor E. Nessler
Libretto By F. Hoffmann (From the Legend of Julius Wolff)
First Produced Leipzig, 1879
Chief Characters Regina, Gertrud, Hunold (The Piper), Ethelrus, Sunneborn, Rynperg
THE story is taken from the old legend, the time being the thirteenth century. The Burgomaster
and Council of the ancient town of Hamelyn are consulting how they shall rid themselves of a
plague of rats, when one of their clerks, Ethelrus, brings in a stranger, who has offered to lure all
the rats away for them. The stranger is a mysterious individual named Hunold, and he bargains
with the Council to rid the town of all the rats for the payment of one hundred marks, stipulating
that he shall be permitted to carry out the work in silence and alone. The terms are agreed upon, a
drink of wine at the end of his work being added to the reward; and the Piper departs until the
night of the full moon shall arrive. Meanwhile the Burgomasters daughter, Regina, receives a visit
from her sweetheart, Sunneborn, the son of the Chief Magistrate, whom she is seen greeting
affectionately by Ethelrus, who is filled with jealousy at the sight, he himself having sought the
love of this maiden, who has repulsed him with scorn; and he seeks means to be revenged upon his
rival.
In Act 2 Hunold, the Piper, is found playing his pipe in the inn, where he meets with a lovely
maiden named Gertrud, whom he has seen in visions and fallen in love with. Gertrud returns his
love, though she is fearful lest he should be dealing in magic in his agreement to rid the town of
the rat plague; but when the lovers meet again alone Hunold assures her that he does not dabble in
magic.
In Act 3 Ethelrus finds means to mortify his rival Sunneborn by making a wager with Hunold that
the latter will entice Regina to give him a willing and uninvited kiss, the Piper having boasted that
with his music he can make any woman love him. In the next scene he gives proof of his power by
playing a wild tune, which causes all the rats in the town to come forth from their hiding-places
and follow him to the river, where they are all drowned. When he comes to claim his reward,
however, the Burgomaster and Council do not wish to part with so much money, and pretend that
there is still the Rat-King in a cellar; but Hunold indignantly demands his due, and insists also that
instead of the drink of wine promised him in addition he shall receive a kiss from the fair Regina.
Finding his insistence of his promised reward being received with scorn and indignation he at once
commences to play on his pipe; and so tender and enthralling a tune does he play, that all the
maidens around immediately fall in love with him, and the once-proud Regina, quite overcome by
her infatuation, comes of her own accord to his side and gives him a loving and uninvited kiss.
Hunold has therefore won his wager with Ethelrus, who is filled with mortification and rage; and,