Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

146. JESSONDA
Opera in Three Acts By Louis Spohr
Libretto By Henry Gehe
First Produced Cassel, July, 1823
Chief Characters Jessonda, Amazili, Tristan d Acunha, Nadori, Daudon
THE scene is laid in Goa, on the Malabar coast, early in the sixteenth century. Jessonda, the young
widow of the old Rajah, who has just died, is condemned to ascend her husbands funeral pyre,
according to the barbarous custom of " Suttee." She is full of despair, for, being young, she longs
to live. Also, she is in love with Tristan dAcunha, a young Portuguese general, from whom she has
been separated, having been forced to marry the old Rajah against her will by the High Priest,
Daudon, who is now determined she shall carry out the dreadful law of "Suttee." Jessonda,
however, hopes she may yet be rescued by Tristan, as the Portuguese are even now besieging Goa;
but she is plunged into despair on learning that a truce has been called, and that Tristan, therefore,
cannot enter the city. Daudon now hastens on the sacrifice; and Jessonda is sent down to bathe in
the Ganges with her maidens, as the first part of the ceremony. Help, however, is at hand. A young
Brahmin priest, Nadori, has been sent to break the news of her quickly-approaching fate to the
widow; but, having no real desire for the priesthood, and having seen and fallen desperately in
love with Amazili, the fair sister of Jessonda, he determines to baulk the plans of the High Priest.
He therefore comforts Amazili with glowing words of love, and promises to do his best to save her
helpless sister.
In Act 3 he pays a secret visit to Tristan and tells him that Daudon has sent spies into the
Portuguese camp, in order to fire their vessels, in spite of the existing truce; and rejoicing that this
galling truce is thus broken, and that he is now freed from his oath, Tristan gathers his troops
together and leads them into Goa through a secret passage shown to him by Nadori. By this means
the Portuguese gain a quick entrance into the city; and Tristan arrives in time to save his beloved
Jessonda from her awful fate, at the moment when the sacrifice is about to be made. Daudon is
thus baulked of his prey, and Tristan carries away the rescued Jessonda to be his bride; whilst
Nadori, renouncing the priesthood, gains his hearts desire and weds the grateful Amazili.
147. SHAMUS OBRIEN
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
Libretto By Sheridan Le Fanu (Adapted from the Poem)
First Produced London, March, 1896
Chief Characters Nora OBrien, Kitty O'Toole, Mike Murphy, Captain Trevor, Father OFlynn
THE action takes place in the village of Ballyhamis in Cork, just after the Irish rebellion of 1798.
Amongst the ringleaders is Shamus OBrien, who is now an outlaw with a price on his head,
having managed to elude his enemies for some time. He has, however, an enemy in Mike Murphy,
who loves Nora, the wife of Shamus; and having a grudge against his rival for the hand of the
village belle, he turns informer and brings the English soldiery, headed by Captain Trevor, to the