Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Court, where he sees Lady Henrietta, who has by this time repented of her conduct to Lionel, for
whom she has conceived a real passion; and she at once presents the ring to the Queen, who
recognises it as having belonged to one of her nobles, who had been banished from Court for some
suspected offence, but whose innocence had afterwards been proved. Lionel is now declared to be
the Earl of Derby, and is restored to his proper estate; but the harassing circumstances through
which he has just passed have so unhinged the young man's mind that he is almost distraught, and
refuses even to accept the love which Henrietta now would bestow upon him. Henrietta is at first
in despair, but presently she thinks out a plan of restoring her lover's reason. She causes a mock
fair to be held in her grounds, and she and Nancy once more dress themselves up as country
wenches; then when Plunket brings Lionel into the make-believe fair, and calls his attention to the
two pretty serving-maids, the mist clears away from the young Earl's mind, and he is restored
completely to his normal state. He then gladly greets Henrietta, and the pair plight their troth with
great joy; and at the same time Plunket and the gay Nancy do likewise.
46. STRADELLA
Romantic Opera in Three Acts By Friedrich von Flotow
Libretto adapted from the historical story by W. Friedrich
First produced as an operetta at Paris, 1837; afterwards added to and produced as a romantic opera
in Hamburg, 1844
Chief Characters Leonora, Stradella, Bassi, Malvolio, Barbarino.
THE scene opens in Venice, where Alessandro Stradella, the celebrated singer, has fallen in love
with Leonora, the ward of a wealthy citizen named Bassi, who is strongly opposed to the match,
being desirous to wed the beautiful maiden himself. This being so, the lovers arrange an
elopement, and escape to Stradella's house near Rome. Here they are tracked by Malvolio and
Barbarino, two ruffians whom Bassi determined to be revenged for the loss of the bride of his
choice has despatched thither to seek an opportunity to murder Stradella and kidnap Leonora.
Disguising themselves in the garb of pilgrims, they come to the house of Stradella, who is now
married to Leonora; and here they are so hospit-ably received by the host, and are so thrilled by
the exquisite singing with which he entertains them, that they cannot bring themselves to perform
the dreadful task for which they were hired. Bassi, however, has followed them, and as they are
about to slink out of the district, he meets them and pours forth angry reproaches upon them. He
then offers them an immense sum of money for their services, and, unable to resist this bribe, the
bandits conceal themselves in Stradella's house, together with Bassi, who comes himself to see
that his orders are carried out. A sacred festival is to be held on the morrow, at which Stradella is
to sing a hymn addressed to the Virgin Mary; and on entering his chamber he proceeds to rehearse
the song, putting his whole soul into the grand music, and so touching the hearts of the would-be
assassins with his liquid notes that their evil thoughts are conquered altogether. Issuing forth from
their hiding-places, and casting aside their weapons, they fall at his feet, confessing all, and
imploring his forgiveness; and Bassi himself joins in their entreaties, his jealous passion also being
utterly subdued by the magic power of his rival's wonderful gift of song. When Leonora enters he
begs her to forgive his persecution of her, and the opera ends with the acceptance of his friendship
by the now happy bride and bridegroom.