Notes on our edition of Almira Summary of the Plot of Almira ... - WGBH

SynopsisSynopsis of AlmiraAct OneIn Castile’s capital city of Valladolid, Almira, orphaneddaughter of the late king, has reached her majority at agetwenty. In the presence of Princesses Edilia and Bellante andother grandees of Spain, her guardian Consalvo crowns herthe Queen of Castile. The new queen praises Consalvo’sloyalty, and names him as her First Counselor. She announcesthe appointment of his son, Osman, as Commander of thearmy, and names Fernando, a foreigner of obscure birth, asher Private Secretary. The three men thank Almira, and pledgetheir allegiance. After the coronation ceremony, Consalvo givesAlmira her father’s will, which orders his daughter to chooseone of Consalvo’s offspring to be her husband. The Counseloris elated by the prospect of seeing one of his sons crownedKing of Castile, and Osman sees himself as a perfect suitor.Almira, secretly in love with Fernando, already feels the heavyweight of the crown: she cannot hope to marry a foundling.Wandering happily in the fragrant palace gardens, PrincessEdilia daydreams about her love, Osman. He enters thegarden, but when she makes herself known he tries to avoidher. Edilia is mortified by this change in her lover, and toappease her, Osman feigns warmth. But when she asks him tosolemnly pledge his love for her, he protests that the time isnot right. The Princess understands that he is planning to leaveher and promises revenge. After her departure, Osmandismisses her threats and reveals his ambition to be chosen byAlmira as her husband in order to gain the crown.Fernando laments his unknown origins, which prevent himfrom professing his love to the Queen. He starts to carve hisdeclaration of love into the bark of a tree, which begins “I LoveEternally”. Almira interrupts as he is working on the thirdword and misinterprets the fragmentary declaration, whichseems to spell the beginning of the name “Edilia.” Devastated,the Queen demands that he leave her presence, cutting shorthis attempts to explain, and Fernando departs, confused byher reaction. Elsewhere, Edilia seeks aid and counsel fromConsalvo about a certain knight who has broken his oath offidelity to her. Unaware that she speaks of Osman, Consalvovows that this man must honor his word. With his promisesafely in hand, Edilia reveals that the scoundrel is in fact hisson, Osman, and Consalvo, though furious to see his family’sbest hope of the throne vanish, has no choice but to give hissupport to Edilia. She is comforted, though troubled byOsman’s inconstancy.The officers of the palace and Fernando’s servant Tabarco,prepare the hall for the evening’s party. Fernando comes tocheck on the progress of the arrangements, but when he seesOsman coming, he eavesdrops and overhears Osman’s planto abandon Edilia and to pursue Almira. Tired of Osman’sfickle behavior, Edilia decides she no longer wants to marryhim. All the courtiers enter the hall and take their places at thecard tables to play. To take revenge on Osman and make himjealous, Princess Edilia chooses Fernando as her partner, andwhen Osman asks Bellante to join his game, recruits the ladyfor her own table to spite him. Bellante is constrained to accepther invitation over Osman’s due to Edilia’s higher rank, but isgreatly dismayed, as she secretly loves Osman. Everyone playscards until the tables are cleared and the ball begins. Almiraarrives and becomes extremely jealous when she sees Fernandodancing with Edilia. The Queen dismisses Fernando, wholeaves in confusion, and is soon followed by Edilia and Osman,both consumed with jealousy, an irritated Bellante, and byConsalvo, who is alarmed by the open conflict within the courtand what it could portend for Castile’s future. Almira isenraged by Fernando’s apparent preference for Edilia, andrealizes she is truly in love.Act TwoRaymondo, an ambassador from Mauretania, has landed inCastile to present the compliments of his king to Almira. Themysterious stranger intrigues the Queen and Consalvo, andthey suspect that he is more than a simple emissary. Bellante,left alone, reflects about the uncertainty of Love. Consalvomakes overtures to her, but she rejects him, and Tabarcodeclares that there is nothing more foolish than an old fool.Fernando closets himself in his room and begins to write aletter of explanation to Almira. Osman insists on entering, andasks Fernando to speak to the Queen on his behalf and presenthim as a suitor. Almira comes in, and Osman hides to listen.The Queen discovers the incomplete letter on the desk, andmistakes it for a declaration of love for Edilia. With Osmanlistening, Fernando cannot bring himself to reveal his feelingsfor the Queen, nor to support Osman’s suit. Consalvo burstsin and asks Almira to call for the wedding of Edilia. The Queenrefuses, thinking that Consalvo is about to name Fernandowhen he is actually intending to speak of Osman. After they allleave, Osman comes out of his hiding place and rejoices aboutwhat he interprets as the Queen’s favor and his hopes for thecrown. His father admonishes him for his deceit andarrogance.Raymondo hopes to find favor with Almira and to be chosenas her consort. Almira has discovered his true identity: he isthe King of Mauretania. Raymondo declares his suit for theQueen’s hand, but she discourages his pretensions and hewithdraws. Left alone, Almira decides that she must confessher love to Fernando. The Queen hides herself when Osmanstorms in, looking to take revenge on Fernando, who thenarrives. The two men prepare to duel. Fearing for the life of herbeloved, Almira snatches their swords from a bench and leavesHANDEL’S ALMIRA2013 BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL147