Music Theatre since 1990 - Schott Music

Synopsis
Beatrice, the daughter of the nobleman Vermandero, falls passionately in love with Alsemero
who returns her love. She gives her servant De Flores the task of eliminating her unloved bridegroom
Alonzo de Piracquo. But after the murder De Flores doesn’t want money, as planned,
but desires his beautiful client for himself and rapes her. Beatrice abandons herself to her unexpected
desire and realises her suppressed sexual appetite.
Meanwhile Antonio, Vermandero’s servant, disposes of Alonzo’s dead body. Frightened for
his life he flees to the madhouse, which is situated in the cellars underneath the palace. The
head of the madhouse is Alibio, who hides his young wife Isabelle here. Antonio succeeds in
finding Isabella and seduces her. After Alonzo’s death there is nothing to prevent Beatrice from
marrying Alsemero. But the wedding night presents a problem for Beatrice: she is no longer a
virgin. To keep this secret from Alsemero, she is represented by her untouched lady-in-waiting,
Diaphanta. She fails to see that Diaphanta is also in love with Alsemero and longs to satiate her
desire for him. When she realises this, Beatrice orders the murder of Diaphanta.
In the meantime, the madhouse patients are taking over the Vermandero palace. Beatrice
confesses that she is dependent on De Flores, whom she stabs to death in front of everyone.
But she realises that she still has not freed herself from him. At the end Beatrice is forced to
acknowledge Isabelle’s insight: ‘Now we are all in hell.’
Vipern
15.04.2007 Stadttheater Bern
Vipern is a very archaic piece, about suppressed love and desire which might explode at any
moment. [...] I see the material like a wild animal, which – kept in captivity – paces to and fro,
sometimes threateningly quiet and sometimes spitting, while the observer is scared as to whether
the animal can be kept in the cage. (Christian Jost)
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