Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

eloved ones are in greater danger than ever, she gives a very unwilling consent to wed with the
trium-phant Zampa, who now informs her that he is in reality the Count di Monza, Alfonso's elder
brother. In the third act Camilla seeks refuge at the altar in the chapel; but even here the
sacrilegious Zampa follows, and roughly drags her away; but he does not secure his victim, for he
is himself seized by the statue of Albina, which has become animated, and which now drags him
down to the beach and into the waves, where he is drowned. Alfonso and Camilla are now free to
be united; and as they stand by the shore to receive the restored Count Lugano, the spirit of Albina
rises from the water to bless them.
72. THE APOTHECARY
Opera Comique By Josef Haydn
Chief Characters Grilletta, Mengino, Volpino, Sempronio (the Apothecary)
THE story centres round a young girl, Grilletta, the pretty ward of old Sempronio, an apothecary.
Gril-letta has two special admirers, Volpino, a rich and very conceited young man, for whom she
has no liking, and Mengino, who, though not possessing a large fortune, she really cares for, since
he is of a kindly, devoted nature. Mengino is of a retiring disposition also, and somewhat timid in
showing his love for the pretty Grilletta; and in order to be near the object of his affection he has
hired himself out as an assistant to old Sempronio, though he really has no knowledge of drugs at
all. The young people find many opportunities of meeting and indulging in little love scenes; but
when these are discovered by old Sempronio he is furious, since he intends to wed his pretty ward
himself, and he drives them asunder whenever he sees them together. The sweethearts, however,
still manage to meet, and take every opportunity of love-making whenever the apothe-cary's back
is turned; and though Volpino also tries the same game, lie is only snubbed by Grilletta for his
pains. When Sempronio sees that matters are grow-ing serious, he determines to hurry on his own
marriage with his ward, despite her wishes to the contrary; and he sends out Mengino to fetch a
notary at once. In a short time two notaries appear, each declaring himself to be the one engaged,
and each demanding his fee; and the old apothecary bids both sit down and write out a marriage
contract for him. Grilletta recognises in the two notaries her two sweet-hearts, who both insert
their own names instead of Sempronio's in the document; and when they hand the Contracts one to
each party the fraud is of course discovered, and Volpino takes to flight, whilst Grilletta is assured
by Mengino that he will still gain her. Volpino still has another trick, however; and he presently
appears disguised as a Turkish Pasha, with a fine suite of Turks, declaring he has come to offer
Sempronia the post of Court Apothecary to the Sultan, who also desires to buy up all his drugs. He
de-ceives Sempronio completely, the old man being quite alarmed at the rough treatment his
precious drugs receive at the hands of the Turkish servants; but Grilletta and Mengino pierce the
disguise, and Mengino succeeds in getting the Apothecary to promise his ward in marriage if he is
able to get the intruders out of his house. Old Sempronio, who is really frightened by these
strangers, readily grants this, and signs a paper to that effect; but no sooner has he signed the paper
than Volpino is unmasked by Mengino and his sweetheart. The lovers there-fore gain their desire;
and the unsuccessful suitors are compelled to make the best of their disappointment.
73.HANSEL AND GRETEL