Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

The old miser's nephew, Heinrich, whose fortune he has unjustly appropriated, lives with him; but
he treats the youth badly, and forces him to do menial work. A masquerade being held one night,
the Miser and his son go forth to attend the revels, leaving the luckless Heinrich alone and
supperless. On their departure, however, the nephew dons a masquerader's hired costume as
Mephistopheles, and is soon joined by his sweetheart, Bertha, who sadly declares herself unable to
attend the ball, having just given away her costume money to a hungry beggar.
Heinrich thereupon suggests that she shall wear the clothes of his uncle's precious Doll, the hidingplace
of which he has discovered; but whilst the delighted Bertha is dressing in the secret chamber
Cornelius and his son return, the night having grown stormy, and therefore propitious for the
working of the former's magic spell. The nephew takes refuge up the chimney; but upon Benjamin
lighting a fire, he jumps down, and, being garbed as Mephistopheles, is taken for the Demon
himself by the scared miser and his son. Taking advantage of this Heinrich pretends to endow the
Doll with life, conjuring forth the now dressed-up Bertha, who, also entering into the joke, leads
the amazed and awed couple a fine dance, making them do her bidding, flinging their goods and
chattels out of the window, and acting in a generally outrageous manner. Finally, she retires to the
inner chamber, making her escape through the window; and Cornelius, shocked at the work of his
hands, follows to the secret chamber to break the Doll. Hein-rich, on his uncle's return, then
confesses he had substituted a maiden for the Doll, to the terror of Cornelius, who now thinks he
has committed a murder, having actually broken the Doll, whereupon Heinrich agrees to keep the
matter secret on having his fortune returned to him. The trembling miser reluctantly hands him the
money, but discovers next moment how cleverly he has been tricked by Heinrich, who brings forth
his merry sweetheart and departs with her and his fortune.
2.THE POSTILION OF LONGJUMEAU
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Adolphe Charles Adam
Libretto By De Leuven & Brunswick
First Produced Paris, October, 1836
Chief Characters Madeleine (afterwards Madame de la Tour), Chapelou (the Postilion), Marquis
de Courcy, Bijou
In the French village of Longjumeau, during the reign of Louis XV., Chapelou, the Postilion, is
celebrating his marriage with Madeleine, the mistress of the Inn. During the festivities, Madeline
having retired with her maidens, Chapelou sings to his boon companions; and he is heard by the
Marquis de Courcy, Superinten-dent of the Opera in Paris, who, being struck by the beauty of his
voice,, offers him a good position as principal singer. Chapelou, being ambitious, allows himself
to be tempted, and at once departs with De Courcy, leaving his friend, Bijou, to comfort
Madeleine, and to say he will return to her later when he has gained his laurels. The deserted bride
is filled with woe, and the scene ends with her upbraidings and laments. In the second act,
Madeleine, having inherited a fortune, is living luxuriously in Paris, being known as Madame de
la Tour, a rich and fashionable lady; and she is seeking means of punishing her truant husband,
whom, however, she still loves and desires to regain. Chapelou is now famous, and the principal
tenor at the Opera, being known as St Phar, and fêted as a popular star; and his friend, Bijou, is
also with him as a basso singer, known as Alcindor. The Marquis de Gourcy, being an admirer of