Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

50. NANON
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Franz Friedrich Richard Genée
Libretto By Zell
First Produced Vienna, 1877
Chief Characters Nanon, Ninon de l'Enclos, Madame de Maintenon, Grignan (Marquis d
'Aubigné), Marquis de Marsillac, Hector, Louis XIV
THE scene is laid in Paris in the time of Louis XIV. Nanon, the pretty young mistress of an inn,
has gained such a reputation for her beauty and charm that she is visited by many rich and
fashionable people in the city, amongst them being the Marquis de Marsillac, Director of the
Theatre, and his nephew Hector, and the celebrated beauty, Ninon de l'Enclos. The latter goes
because she suspects that her admirer, the Marquis d'Aubigé, admires the pretty inn mistress; but,
on being told that Nanon is betrothed to a drummer named Grignan, she has no further fear.
Grignan, however, is really the Marquis d'Aubigné in disguise, he having really fallen in love with
Nanon, and meaning to steal her away and hide her in some hidden retreat; but, find-ing her bent
on being wedded to him first, he escapes the ceremony by allowing himself to be arrested for
fighting a duel. Nanon is in despair, thinking her lover in danger of death, which is the penalty of
duelling; and she resolves to seek the assistance of Ninon de l'Enclos, whom she knows has
influence at Court. The second act shows us the reception rooms of the luxurious Ninon, and
complications soon arise by the arrival of Nanon, Hector, and d'Aubigné. Nanon, however, does
not come face to face with d'Aubigné, whose recent arrest was merely a make-believe one,
arranged for his benefit by his colonel; but a serious quarrel arises between the young Marquis and
Hector, because of the latter's attentions to Nanon, whom the former, though not anxious to be
united to her, still regards as his pro-perty, and the two go into the garden to fight a duel, Hector
being wounded. D'Aubigné is now really arrested, and in danger of his life; and in the last act,
which takes place in the private chapel of Madame de Maintenon, both Ninon and Nanon visit the
royal favourite, the one to plead for the life of d'Aubigné, and the other for that of Grignan, whom
she has no knowledge is the same person. Marsillac also comes to plead for his nephew, who is
par-doned; and, on Nanon pleading for her sweetheart, the King grants her request, too, as well as
that of Ninon. D'Aubigné, thus liberated, is sent for, and then Nanon recognises him as her
sweetheart. The young Marquis is so conscience-stricken by the whole-hearted devotion and
perfect love of Nanon, that his passion for her is stirred to greater and truer depths; and he now
humbly asks her to become his wife. Nanon gladly admits her love and desire to grant his request,
and the permission of the King and royal favourite having been obtained, the curtain falls upon the
rejoicings of the happy lovers.
51. MERRIE ENGLAND
Comic Opera in Two Acts By Edward German
Libretto By Basil Hood
First Produced Savoy Theatre, London, April 2nd, 1902
Chief Characters Queen Elizabeth, Bessie Throckmorton, Jill-All-Alone, The May Queen, Earl of
Essex, Sir Walter Raleigh, Walter Wilkins, Silas Simkins, Long Tom and Big Ben, The Queen's