Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

First Produced Paris, August, 1829
Chief Characters Mathilde, Arnold, William Tell, Gessler, Leutold
THE scene is laid in Switzerland, during the thirteenth century, at the time of the persecution of
the Swiss by the tyrannical Austrian Governor, Gessler. The opera opens with the revels attending
a country wedding, which is attended by William Tell, a bold archer, who has already given signs
of his intention to lead a rising of his countrymen against their oppressors. The revels are
interrupted by Leutold, a herdsman, who enters, half-distracted, declaring that he has slain an
Austrian officer, because he has offered insult and outrage to his only daughter; and he seeks the
protection of Tell, who readily renders his aid, and places him in safe hiding. When the Austrian
pursuers appear and find their quarry gone they seize old Melchtal, the village wise man, and
because he refuses to give information of the fugitive, they put him to death, by order of the tyrant
Gessler. Melchtals son, Arnold, is in love with Mathilde, daughter of Gessler; but when he hears
the dreadful news of his fathers murder, his filial duty prevails, and he swears to be revenged for
the old mans death. He therefore joins with Tell, who has gathered the indignant and persecuted
peasants together; and they all swear a solemn oath to attack their cruel oppressor and set their
country free. On hearing of the insurrection, Gessler is furious, and determines to bring the
peasants into further subjection; and in order to discover the ringleaders he sets his hat on a pole
and bids all who pass by to bow down in homage before it. When it comes to Tells turn he proudly
refuses to do homage to the tyrant; and the enraged Gessler, thinking to break his spirit and heart
at the same time, commands him to shoot an arrow at an apple placed upon the head of the archers
own beloved little son. But Tell is a clever archer, and after passionately embracing his son he
takes a calm and careful aim and his arrow splits the apple in two without harming the child. The
people raise the echoes with their acclamations at this remarkable feat, but the glowering Gessler
sees a second arrow half-concealed in Tells clothing, and on learning from the fearless archer that
he would certainly have aimed this at the heart of the tyrant had his first shaft slain his child, the
furious Governor causes him to be cast into prison. But Arnold quickly gathers together a brave
company of those who have sworn to join in the liberation of their country, and they succeed in
storming the prison and rescue Tell, whom they place at their head to lead the insurrection.
Mathilde, meanwhile, has now left the side of her tyrant father and gladly bestows herself upon
Arnold. Tell and his hand slay the cruel oppressor, and finally succeed in bringing freedom to their
country; and the opera closes with the union of the now happy lovers, Arnold and Mathilde.
137. NERO
Opera in Four Acts By Anton Gregor Rubinstein
Libretto Jules Barbier
First Produced Hamburg, 1879
Chief Characters Chrysa, Epicharis, Poppoena, Agrippina, Nero, Vindex, Saccus
THE scene is laid in Ancient Rome, and the opera opens in the house of the courtesan, Epicharis,
where a number of licentious Roman lords are gathered. They are presently joined by Vindex,
Prince of Acquitania, who is conspiring with several of his friends against the life of the tyrant
Nero. They are interrupted by the sudden entrance of a beautiful maiden, Chrysa, who is flying
from pursuit by a party of revellers and begs protection. She does not know of her mothers real