Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

gathers. Enzo appears opportunely, and endeavours to protect the distressed maiden and her
helpless mother; and in this he is assisted by one of the Inquisition chiefs, Aloise, who now
appearing with his wife, Laura, sets free the terrified La Cieca, who, in gratitude, gives her rosary
to Laura. The latter now recognises Enzo, who was once betrothed to her before his exile, and for
whom she still cherishes a passionate affection, and who also loves her in return; and she reveals
this fact to Barnaba, who decides to assist the lovers, in order to secure an open field in regard to
Gioconda. He therefore arranges that Laura shall elope with Enzo that night in the latters vessel;
and at the same time he warns the husband, Aloise, of his wifes intention, for he is treacherous,
and desires also to stand well with the Inquisition. Gioconda is meanwhile filled with grief on
discovering that Enzo has no love for her, as she had imagined; and she is quickly jealous of
Laura.
Act 2 takes place in the vessel in which Enzo intends to elope with Laura. As he waits anxiously
for her, she approaches in a small boat, accompanied by Barnaba, who is still playing his double
game; for as the lovers are rejoicing in each others arms he departs and presently returns with
Aloise. Gioconda has also managed to secretly board the vessel, and she has a passionate scene
with Laura, whom she attempts to stab, but refrains upon the latter holding up the rosary which La
Cieca had given her. Gioconda now makes friends with Laura; and when they see Aloise drawing
near, she manages to get the terrified wife away before he boards the vessel. Enzo sets his vessel
on fire when he finds himself surrounded by the State galleys; but he and Gioconda manage to
make their escape.
In Act 3 Aloise has captured his runaway wife, and commands her to drink a cup of poison he
places before her; but when the angry husband departs Gioconda appears, and, pouring out the
poison, gives Laura a potion, which makes her fall into a deep slumber, so that she appears to be in
a trance. When Aloise returns, therefore, and sees the empty cup, and Laura lying still, he thinks
he has gained his revenge; but when he has again departed, Gioconda comes once more, and
carries the sleeping Laura away to her own abode in a ruined palace.
Here, in Act 4, the temptation seizes her to slay the helpless sleeper; but her better feelings prevail,
and she cannot do the deed. Enzo presently enters, and believing the still and silent Laura to be
dead he at once suspects Gioconda of having murdered her, and is about to destroy her in his
despair; but at this moment Laura awakens from her trance and explains how Gioconda has really
saved her life. The lovers now depart together, leaving Gioconda full of grief at her unrequited
love. But she nevertheless dresses herself in gay wedding apparel, having promised herself to the
cunning Barnaba as a bribe for his help in her plans for the escape of the lovers; but when he
presently appears to claim his reward she stabs herself in his presence. Before she dies, however,
she has to endure the additional woe of learning from the angry and disappointed Barnaba that he
has strangled her blind mother.
127. LA BOHÈME
Opera in Four Acts By Giacomo Puccini
Libretto By Giacosa and Illica (Adapted from a series of Scenes taken from Murgers "LVie de
Bohême")