Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

lover if she will grant his evil desires and become his; and at last the despairing Tosca consents.
Scarpia declares that a mock execution will have to take place, but that blank cartridges shall be
fired; and Tosca also persuades him to write a passport for herself and her lover to leave the city.
Whilst Scarpia is writing this, Tosca snatches up a knife from the table, and when he flings down
the pen and prepares to embrace her she plunges it into his heart.
In Act 3 Tosca appears at the place of execution and tells her lover of the mock death he is to
feign; for Scarpia had pretended to give the promised instructions to his attendants before signing
her passport, but-alas for poor Tosca ! - he has bidden them make the execution a real one after
all. Cavaradossi therefore parts calmly from his sweetheart when the soldiers come to lead him
forth, and Tosca remains to see him fall, as arranged, intending to escape with him afterwards
when the soldiers have gone. Cavaradossi is put in place and, as the volley rings out, he falls to the
ground and remains motionless, as though dead; and after awhile the soldiers cover him with a
cloth and depart. Then Tosca hastens to her fallen lovers side and eagerly pulls aside the cloth,
awaiting his expected caress; but to her horror she finds that real shot has been used and that he is
dead. As she utters a cry of grief and despair, Spoletta and a crowd of officials enter the courtyard,
full of excitement, having discovered that Scarpia has been killed, and suspecting the singer as his
slayer; but before they can reach her Tosca rushes to the parapet of the tower, and casting herself
over the battlements falls dead on the pavement below.
132. SIGURD
Opera in Four Acts By Ernst Reyer
Libretto By Blau and Du Locle
First Produced Brussels, January, 1884
Chief Characters Brunnhilde, Hilda, Sigurd, Gunther, Hagen
THE story of this opera is taken from the ancient Northern legends of the Eddas, and deals with
most of the incidents which are contained in the final portions of Wagners " Ring," the same
characters appearing under slightly different names. Hilda, sister of Gunther, a powerful German
King, is secretly in love with the famous hero Sigurd (which is the same as Siegfried), but she is
betrothed to Attila, King of the Huns, whose alliance is desired by her brother. When Attilas
messengers arrive they are gladly welcomed by Gunther, who feasts them, and fterwards they
relate the story of the Sleeping Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, who lies on a rock, surrounded by re and
waiting for a hero ardent enough to brave the flames and awaken her. Gunther is very eager to
secure the lovely war-maiden as his bride; and whilst he is deciding on his plans a hunting-horn
sounds, and the radiant hero, Sigurd, appears. Hilda, greatly desiring the new-coiners love,
presents him with a horn of wine in which she has mixed a magic potion, and after drinking it
Sigurd at once falls in love with her and asks her hand in marriage. Gunther consents to this, and
to the breaking of his word to Attila, on condition that the hero will aid him in turn to win the
Sleeping Valkyrie; and upon Sigurd agree-ing the pair set out upon their adventure, accompanied
by Hagen, the half-brother of Gunther.
In Act 2 they are shown near Brunnhildes fiery rock, and Sigurd leaves his companions and
proceeds on his adventure alone. He has many struggles with spirits nd other supernatural beings