Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Burgomaster to dis-cover the true Czar for them from amongst the workers on the wharf. The
Burgomaster is in a great flutter; and, knowing that Peter Michaelow and Peter Ivanow are the
only strangers amongst them, he tries to dis-cover which is the masquerading monarch. After
asking them both a number of questions, he fixes on Peter Ivanow as the disguised Czar; and
finally he slyly promises to help him to gain the hand of the pretty Mary if he will confess his
identity to the ambassadors. Meanwhile the Marquis has already discovered for himself that Peter
Michaelow is the Czar; and, making himself known to him, he is first in the field with the
negotiations he wishes to carry through whilst the English Ambassador is still being hoodwinked
into believing that Peter Ivanow is the royal personage he seeks. Ivanow, having no notion why he
should be suddenly taken for the Czar of All the Russias, is very reluctantly persuaded to confess
the same by the foolish old Burgomaster, who still persists in believing him to be the roving
monarch. A third ambassador now appears, the Russian General Lefort, who has come to advise
his royal master that it is necessary for him to return to the capital; but before going on board the
vessel which has come for him the Czar calls Peter Ivanow aside and gives him a paper, telling
him that it is a pass-port, which he may find useful when he wishes to leave the wharf, since the
deserter is somewhat afraid as to his future. After the Czar has departed quietly to the waiting
vessel, still keeping up his incognito, the fussy Burgomaster brings a crowd of townsfolk to pay
their loyal respects to Peter Ivanow as their monarch; but whilst he is delivering a long-winded
oration cannon shots are heard. The crowd all turn to the shore, their gaze centring on the vessel
on which the supposed Peter Michaelow has just stepped; and they see what a foolish mistake they
have made, as the crew all break out into loyal cheers as they greet their beloved ruler. The
townspeople, however, gladly take up the cry also, very lustily shouting out to the departing
illustrious stranger, " Long live the Czar! " Peter Ivanow is dumbfounded at first on dis-covering
that he has been hobnobbing with the Czar; but his anxiety as to the result of such familiarity is
soon set at rest on opening the supposed passport which his fellow-companion had given him, for
he finds this to be instead a document bestowing upon him a free pardon for his desertion and a
substantial gift of money besides. So, with a free field to the favours of pretty Mary also, Peter
Ivanow feels that he has good cause to bless the name of his companion in labour Peter, the Czar
and the Carpenter.
82. UNDINE
Romantic Opera in Four Acts By Albert Lortzing
Libretto Adapted from the Abbé Fouqué's Romance
First Produced Hamburg, 1845
Chief Characters Undine, Bertalda, Huldbrand von Ringstettin, Kühleborn, Tobias the Fisherman,
Veit
THE plot follows on almost exactly the lines of Fouqué's charming romance, the first scene being
laid on the shores of the Danube on the borders of a haunted forest. Huldbrand von Ringstettin, a
noble young knight, has been sent forth to seek adventures by the proud Lady Bertalda, adopted
daughter of a Duke, she having already bestowed her scarf on him at a tournament in token of her
regard, but wishing to make further trial of his bravery before honouring him with her hand. After
meeting with many mysterious folk in the magic forest, Huldbrand seeks a lodging in the cottage
of an old fisherman named Tobias, where he remains some months owing to the spring floods.