Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

easons for his resolve. He has, however, betrothed her in early childhood to Pietro, Prince of
Palermo, and at the opening of the opera Pietro is proceeding to Florence to claim his bride. On his
way he joins a company of wild, hilarious students, the merry ringleader of whom is Boccaccio,
the famous romancer and poet. Boccaccio also is in love with Fiametta, who returns his affection,
and he leads Pietro into many wild escapades in order to get his rival out of the way. On one
occasion Pietro is encouraged to make love to a coopers wife, whom he is led to believe is a single
woman; and this leads to amusing complications for him. He also gets a severe beating by being
mistaken for the mischievous Boccaccio. Finally, however, he arrives in Florence, still
accompanied by Boccaccio, and the arrangements for his marriage with Fiametta are prepared.
The dashing Boccaccio, however, seeing with joy that his own love for Fiametta is returned by
her, slyly arranges for the performance of a play, in which he causes all the wild frolics and
flirtations of Pietro on his journey to Florence to be set forth in exaggerated colours; and Fiametta
affects to be so greatly shocked at the misdeeds of her betrothed that she now flatly refuses to wed
with him. When, therefore, the ardent Boccaccio puts in his plea for her regard she admits that she
loves him and gladly bestows her hand upon him.
168. HAMLET
Opera in Five Acts By Charles Ambroise Thomas
Libretto By Carré and Barbier (Adapted from Shakespeares Tragedy)
First Produced Paris, March, 1868
Chief Characters Ophelia, Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, King Claudius, Horatio, Laertes, The Ghost of
Hamlets Father, Polonius
GREAT liberties have been taken with Shakespeare's text in this opera, and in many places rank
absurdities occur.
In Act 1 Hamlet is shown grieved and shocked at his mothers marriage with Claudius so soon after
the mysterious death of the late King. Ophelia, daughter of the crafty minister, Polonius, tries to
bring comfort to him, and Hamlet is grateful for her love, which he returns, and on the departure
of her brother Laertes he promises to cherish her. At midnight the scene with the ghost occurs, and
Hamlets former suspicions are confirmed on thus learning from the spirit that his father was
murdered by Claudius at the instigation of the Queen. He now seeks to avenge the murdered King,
to which end he arranges the famous play scene, in which the actor pours poison into the ear of a
sleeping rival, and seeing, by Claudius guilty countenance, that the ghosts words were true, he
passionately accuses him of the murder of his father. He has, however, no definite proof, but later
he receives further confirmation by overhearing a conversation, by which he learns that Polonius
was the accomplice of Claudius. This makes him turn from Ophelia, whom he suspects also; and
he now disdains her love and treats her with such cruel coldness that the gentle girl, in her grief at
his conduct, becomes crazed.
In Act 4 we see her decked with flowers, playing with the village girls; and after they have left her
she crouches amongst the reeds be-side the lake, into which she presently casts herself, being
drawn thither by the song of the sirens, which she sings as she floats away.