Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

151. THE QUEENS LACE HANDKERCHIEF
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Johann Strauss
Libretto By Genée and Bohrrnann-Reign
First Produced Vienna, October, 1880
Chief Characters The Queen of Portugal, Irene, King of Spain, Cervantes, The Prime Minister,
Sancho
THE scene is laid in Portugal during the sixteenth century. The Prime Minister has gained great
influence and power, and being in league with Philip II of Spain endeavours to retain his almost
autocratic ascendancy by stirring up squabbles and jealousies between the young King and Queen,
enticing the former to indulge in many amours and intrigues. The poet, Cervantes, having been
banished from Spain, is at this time at the Court of Portugal, where he has been appointed Reader
to the Queen, and where he falls in love with Irene, a Waiting-Lady. The Queen being young and
fond of seeking admiration shows great favour to Cervantes, and even goes so far as to write a
sentimental love message upon her lace-trimmed handkerchief, which she places in his book, "
Don Quixote," hoping he will see and read it. The book, however, is found by the Prime Minister,
who, regarding the characters in the story as drawn from existing ministers, causes Cervantes,
whom he distrusts, to be arrested for libel. Irene implores the King - who has been showing her
considerable attention - to save her sweetheart; and the two, by proving him to have been mad
when he wrote the book, secure his release. The Prime Minister, however, now produces the lace
handkerchief, with the Queens foolish message on it; and this leads to the Queen being sent to a
convent and to Cervantes being once more arrested. The latter makes his escape, however, and
throws in his lot with a party of brigands, whom he persuades to kidnap the Queen as she is being
conducted to the convent. Cervantes leads the Queen to a country inn, where they persuade the
landlord to allow them to masquerade as the host and waiting-maid, having heard that the King is
expected to call there after a hunting expedition; and when the young monarch appears they both
serve him. They soon make themselves known to him, and then proceed to explain matters, and
make him see that no dishonour has been offered to him. The Queen, now ashamed of her
indiscretion and sentimentality, leads her royal husband to suppose that the message written on the
handkerchief was addressed to himself and given to Cervantes to deliver to him; and the King,
mindful of his own shortcomings, graciously accepts this explanation. All ends well, therefore,
peaceful relations being restored between the royal pair, and Cervantes and Irene are left happy in
each others love.
152. ELEKTRA
Tragic Opera in One Act By Richard Strauss
Libretto By Hugo von Hofmansthal
First Produced Dresden, January, 1901
Chief Characters Elektra, Clytemnestra, Chrysosthemis, Orestes, Ægisthos
THE story follows closely the old Greek classical myth, and the scene is laid in Mycene, where
Elektra is seen mourning the murder of her royal father, Agamemnon, by her mothers lover,