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Grand Opera in Three Acts By Christoph Willibald Gluck
Libretto Raneiro Caizabigi
First Produced Vienna, October, 1762
Chief Characters Eurydice, Orpheus, Amor
THE story is adapted from the old Greek legend, though the finale is different. As the curtain rises
Orpheus is discovered mourning the untimely death of his beautiful young wife, Eurydice; but he
is presently visited by Amor, the Spirit of Love, who bears a message from Zeus, to the effect that
he is to be permitted to seek his lost one in the Under-world, and to bring her thence to mortal life
once more. One condition, however, is imposed he must not look on the face of his departed wife
until they reach the Upper-world, or she will die again, and be snatched away from him for ever.
Orpheus gladly takes his lute and journeys to Hades, where the departed spirits endeavour to
prevent his further approach; but Orpheus touches his lute, and overcomes them by his thrilling
singing and magical gift of music, so that they let him pass. He thus reaches Elysium, where
Eurydice comes eagerly forth to greet him; but Orpheus covers his eyes, and, taking his beloved
one by the band, he endeavours to quickly retrace his steps to the Upper-world. Eurydice,
however, is offended and hurt because he will not look upon her; and not knowing the cause her
husband having been forbidden by Zeus to tell her the reason she pleads continually for him to
smile upon her, and to permit her to look into his eyes that she may know whether he still loves
her. For a long while Orpheus resists her appeals; but finally her reproaches and tender entreaties
are more than he can fight against, and just as they reach the Upper-world he turns and casts one
passionate look of love and longing upon her. Instantly Eurydice sinks back out of his grasp, dead;
and the unhappy husband, full of despair, seizes his sword, intending to slay himself. At this
moment, however, the Spirit of Love appears to pre-vent the fatal act; and, to the joy of Orpheus,
he restores Eurydice once more to life and her devoted husband's love.
59. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Opera Comique in Four Acts By Hermann Goetz
Libretto, adapted from Shakespeare's Comedy by J. V. Widmann
First Produced Mannheim, 1872
Chief Characters Katherina, Bianca, Petruchio, Baptista, Lucentio, Hortensio
THE story is practically the same as in Shakespeare's comedy. Lucentio and Hortensio, two young
lords of Padua, are in love with Bianca, the fair and amiable daughter of the wealthy Baptista,
who, however, will not listen to the suits of either gentleman until his elder daughter, Katherina,
the Shrew, is married. The two admirers, therefore, are glad when Petruchio, a rich and gay
gentleman of Verona, hearing of their difficulty, agrees to woo and win the hot-tempered maiden
who stands in their way. In the next act the two sisters are shown in their chamber, Katherina
rating Bianca roundly for permitting her admirers to pay her such marked attention, and for being,
as she considers, weakspirited; but when her father presently enters with the suitor who has
volunteered to risk the wooing of her, she turns on the stranger, and exhibits to him a strong
distaste for his society her demeanour, however, showing not so much a vixenish character as one
of great womanly pride, strong will and independence. This appeals to Petruchio, who falls in love