Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

challenges the Marquis to fight with him next day. Fra Diavalo agrees, having arranged a plan
with his band, by means of which he hopes to entrap all the soldiers; but next morning his two
followers, by carelessly repeating to each other the words of Zerlina's prayer, which she overhears,
cause their disguise to be discovered, and they are forced by the soldiers to disclose their leader's
hiding-place and to entice him into the very same trap he had intended for his pursuers. Fra
Diavalo is thus at last captured in a dramatic manner; and he goes forth boldly to meet his doom,
first having the grace to clear Zerlina's fair name. Lorenzo thereupon seeks and obtains her pardon
for his suspicion of her; and Lord and Lady Allcash (who have also made up their differences)
having bestowed on him a generous reward for having recovered their valuables, the innkeeper no
longer refuses his consent to their marriage, and the young couple are therefore made happy.
9. MASANIELLO
Lyrical Opera in Five Acts By Daniel François Esprit Auber
Libretto By Delavigne and Scribe
First Produced Paris, February, 1826
Chief Characters Elvira, Fenella, Masaniello, Aiphonso, Pietro.
THIS opera is strongly marked by the revolutionary atmosphere of the period in which it was
written. The scene is laid in the neighbourhood of Naples, where the wedding of the Princess
Elvira and Alphonso, son of the Duke of Arcos, is taking place. As the bride appears she is
accosted by Fenella, a dumb girl, who pleads by her actions for protection from a cavalier who has
betrayed and persecuted her, his servants even now seeking to drag her back to prison, from
whence she has escaped. The Princess promises her protection; but during the marriage ceremony,
Fenella discovers that the bridegroom, Alphonso, is her betrayer and persecutor. As the wedding
party issue from the church, in dramatic dumb show she denounces the bridegroom to her
protectress, and the revels end in confusion and dismay.
In Act 2 we are introduced to Masaniello, the fisherman brother of Fenella, who is the leader of a
band of revolutionists; and he and his friend Pietro incite their fishermen companions to strive for
liberty. Fenella appears, grief-stricken; and on learning the reason for her woe her brother's
revolutionary spirit is excited even more, and he calls on his companions to aid him in putting
down such tyranny of the rich and powerful over the poor and humble. In the third act, as Fenella
appears amongst a merry company of street vendors, the officers of Alphonso again attempt to
arrest her, but Masaniello and his followers appear in time to save her from their clutches; and this
is the signal for the revolt, which now breaks forth in fury.
In Act 4 Masaniello is shown as victorious in his efforts; but he is filled with grief on listening to
the tale of civil war horror, described by Fenella, who has just come in from the city. Pietro,
however, urges him to fresh efforts still, telling him that Alphonso has escaped with some of his
vanquished friends, and, at the moment, Alphonso and Elvira seek protection in the cottage; and
on finding themselves in the hands of their enemies they are in despair. Fenella, however,
kneeling, generously pleads for them, and Masaniello agrees to protect themto the anger of Peitro,
who would show them no mercy. But Masa-niello keeps to his word; and the scene closes with the
entrance of the city rulers, who name the successful leader of the revolt as their King.