Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

and unprincipled man of the world, named Osaka, who, greatly struck with her wonderful beauty,
determines to steal her away; and with the aid of his friend, Kyoto, he carries out his plan. The pair
disguise themselves as the owners of a puppet-show, with which they entice the childlike Iris into
the street; and whilst she is gazing in delight at the show they seize her, wrap her in a cloak, and
hasten away with her. They next send a gift of money to the father, who, when he is also informed
that she has gone to the ill-reputed district of Yoshimara, and is led to think that she has gone
thither at her own desire, is filled with indignation as well as grief and sets off to seek her out that
he may curse and disown her. In Act 2 Iris awakens in a palatial chamber in the Yoshimara, the
dazzling luxury of which leads her to believe that she has been suddenly transported to Paradise.
Presently Osaka appears and pours forth passionate protestations of love for her; but Iris is too
childlike to understand the meaning of his ardent expressions, and is, in fact, so mystified that
Osaka is held back involuntarily, and being awed by such innocence, he loses interest in her, and
determines to make use of her as a street show. The first time the unhappy girl appears on the
streets, however, she beholds her father, and flies to him for protection; but Cieco, thinking her
voluntarily degraded, repudiates her, and flinging mud upon her to show his contempt, he pours
forth curses and railings upon her. The poor girl, overwhelmed with grief, and not knowing what
she has done to offend her beloved parent, is so filled with despair that she throws herself in the
flooded gutters to die. In Act 3 the wretched Iris is dis-covered by the rag-pickers and beggars,
who despoil her of her finery, believing her to be already dead; but when the swooning girl
recovers somewhat they flee from her in terror. Iris, however, is dying; but once more beholding
the glory of the rising sun, she stretches out her arms entreatingly, and greets the golden orb with
loving words as though greeting a welcome friend. Then, as she draws her last breath, fair
blossoms spring up on every side of her; and her released spirit is seen winging its way joyfully to
its celestial home in the golden heavens.
90. THE MARRIAGE OF JEANNETTE
Opera Comique in One Act By Felix Marie Massé
Libretto By Barbier and Carré
First Produced Paris, February, 1853
Chief Characters Jeannette and Jean
THE plot of this opera is quite a simple little story; and its chief charm lies in its dainty simplicity.
The scene is laid in a rustic village in France, where Jean, a simple and exceedingly shy young
peasant, has fallen in love with the equally simple Jeannette. They arrange to be married; but when
the wedding-day arrives Jean is attacked by a sudden fit of shyness, and hastily changing his mind
he refuses to sign the contract, and beats an ignominious retreat to his cottage. Here he is promptly
followed by the disappointed Jeannette, who takes him to task. Seeing, however, that the matter
will require careful dealing with, she announces that she believes he was really willing to marry
her had his shyness not made him too nervous to go forward with the ceremony; and she asks him
amiably to prove this to her by signing another contract, from which she will refrain from writing
her name, and also promising to refuse his proposals before all her friends. Jean falls into the trap;
but when he has signed the new contract Jeannette, in her turn, announces to him that she has
changed her mind, since he has set her the example of being so irresolute, and she declares that he
is already her husband and that she means to be his wife. The shy Jean falls into a passion at this