Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Romantic Opera in Four Acts By Robert Schumann
Libretto By Hebbel and Lieck (Adapted from the old Legend)
First Produced Leipzig, June, 1850
Chief Characters Genoveva, Margaretha, Count Siegfried, Golo, Drago
THE scene is laid in the Palatinate during the time of the Emperors of the West. The reigning
Emperor, having commanded Count Siegfried to depart to the wars against the Saracens, the
young noble leaves his beautiful wife, Genoveva, in charge of his friend Golo. The latter has
conceived a violent passion for Genoveva, and being thus left in charge of her, he endeavours to
gain her love and satisfy his desires; and in his evil design he is aided by an old nurse, Margaretha,
who is in reality his own mother, who has ambitious plans for her sons future. Genoveva,
however, loves her absent lord, and scornfully repulses the passionate declaration of Golo; and
when the latter still persists in forcing his odious attentions upon her she staggers him by flinging
the word " bastard " at him. This galls Golo to desperation; and his passion changing to hatred, he
entices the servants and retainers to rebel against their mistress, and when they speak ill of her
good name he refuses to defend her, but declares that their slanders are true. He even goes further
by bringing the faith-ful steward,. Drago, into her chamber, and then sending the other servants to
discover him there. Drago is killed by his orders; and the innocent and persecuted Genoveva is
cast into the castle dungeon. Margaretha, having heard that Count Siegfried has been wounded,
now goes to Strasbourg to nurse him; and she attempts to put an end to his life by giving him
small doses of poison, hoping thus to gain his wealth for her own son. The Count, however, is
young and healthy, and her drugs have no effect upon him; but he is plunged into despair when
Golo presently visits him and relates the trumped-up story of his wifes supposed unfaithfulness. In
his grief and rage he gives his sword and ring to Golo, and bids him slay Genoveva; and after Golo
has departed Margaretha fans his wrath further by producing a magic-mirror, in which she shows
him false pictures of the pretended love-making of the Countess and the steward Drago. Presently,
however, the mirror breaks into fragments, and the ghost of Drago appears, and sternly commands
the hag to speak the truth. Full of abject terror, Margaretha now confesses that the whole story is
false; and Siegfried rises distractedly from his couch and sets forth immediately to intercept Golo
and to save his wife from an untimely death. Meanwhile Golo reaches the castle first, and causes
the unhappy Genoveva to be led out into the forest by two ruffians; and there he meets her, and
showing her Siegfrieds ring and sword, announces his authority to slay her. In despair, Genoveva
falls on her knees, and, holding up a cross, begs for mercy, and prays for help; and at this moment
Siegfried rushes upon the scene and rescues her from the baffled and furious Golo, who, seeing his
consciencestricken and repentant mother also approaching, and realising that their perfidy is
discovered, takes to flight, and loses his life by falling over a precipice. Meanwhile Siegfried
humbly implores the pardon of Genoveva for his doubt of her; and the opera ends with the reunion
of the loving husband and wife.
144. THE SOLD BRIDE
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Frederick Smetana
Libretto By R. Sahina
First Produced Prague, 1866