Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

lives, uttering the most scathing rebukes. Neither does he spare Salome, but when she smiles upon
him and endeavours to enthral him with her allurements, he turns from her in scorn, and rebukes
her sternly as he is borne back to his prison. This disregard of her charms enrages the passionate
Salome, and her sudden love changing to jealous and unreasoning hatred she resolves to be
revenged upon the prophet. Meanwhile Narraboth, the Syrian officer, having seen that the lovely
princess has no real regard for him, but only desires the love of Jokanaan, is filled with despair and
kills himself; and when Herod and Herodias presently appear, the former, having conceived a
violent passion for his step-daughter, and guessing from the Syrian s dead body the state of affairs,
is filled with a gloomy jealousy. He nevertheless begs Salome to dance for his amusement in order
to distract his thoughts, for Jokanaan now is once more heard uttering denunciations, and the
monarch is greatly in awe of the prophet. Salome, however, refuses to dance, but suddenly
forming a daring and dreadful scheme, she changes her mind and declares herself ready to thus
entertain him if he will afterwards grant her anything she may desire. Herod, intoxicated with her
beauty and charm, rashly agrees, and the famous Dance of the Seven Veils is performed by
Salome. When the dance comes to an end Herod again promises to give the maiden anything she
may desire, even to the half of his kingdom; and Salome boldly demands the head of Jokanaan the
Prophet, whom she hates for despising her love, to be brought to her on a silver charger. This
dreadful request staggers Herod with horror, for he fears to slay the Prophet; but when Salome
repeats her request and taunts him by scornfully accusing him of cowardice he is so goaded to
desperation by her stinging words that he agrees to grant her wish, and commands the executioner
to bring forth the head of the prisoner, as desired. Salome never wavers from her resolve to be
revenged upon the man who has disdained her proffered love, and waits with an awful calmness
and determination for her wish to be carried out; but when the head of Jokanaan is at last brought
to her in the silver charger she is filled with remorse, and kisses the silent lips with passionate
fervour. This act so enrages and horrifies Herod that he bids his guards slay the now weeping girl,
and the opera closes with the fall of the beautiful and passionate Salome beneath the weapons of
the soldiers.
155. THE GONDOLIERS; OR, "THE KING OF
BARATARIA"
Comic Opera in Two Acts By Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan
Libretto By Sir W. S. Gilbert
First Produced London, December, 1889
Chief Characters Gianetta, Tessa, Casilda, Duchess of Plaza Toro, Inez, Guiseppe, Marco, Luiz,
Duke of Plaza Toro, Don Alhambra (Grand Inquisitor)
THE scene is laid in Venice, where the pretty contadini have brought showers of roses for the two
most popular gondoliers, Marco and Guiseppe, who presently appear; and, both being unable to
select a wife from amongst so many pretty girls, the young men blindfold themselves, and take the
first they capture. Marco snatches Gianetta, and Tessa falls to Guiseppe; and the merry couples
hasten off to be married at once. As they depart a party of strangers arrive. These are the Duke and
Duchess of Plaza Toro, their daughter, Casilda, and their one attendant, Luiz. They are Grandees
of Spain, very proud, and great sticklers for etiquette; but, in spite of the grandeur of their ancient