The four operas

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published July 20, 2007

'Falstaff' by Guiseppe Verdi

Verdi's lighthearted opera Falstaff is based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor and bits of Henry IV.

The old, rotund knight Falstaff decides to pay a big bar bill by courting two wives, Alice Ford and Meg Page, and getting money from them. The women find out about his double plot and turn the tables on him, eventually dumping him in a river.

A secondary plot involves Alice Ford's beautiful daughter Ann, who wants to marry the young and handsome Fenton. Her wealthy father, however, wants her to marry the old and rich Dr. Caius.

Caius' servant, Dame Quickly, carries tales to everyone, and they all wind up in a dark woods at midnight, where there are fairies, magic and disguises that all lead to a happy resolution and reconciliation for everyone.

'The Magic Flute' by W.A. Mozart

Mozart's final opera was written in 1791, but it is rather like a modern musical comedy, with lots of fantasy tossed in.

The main characters are the Egyptian Prince Tamino, his comical sidekick Papageno, and the beautiful Pamina, daughter of the sometimes good, sometimes evil Queen of the Night.

Pamina is a prisoner in the palace of the High Priest Sarastro. She is closely watched by the comic villain Monostatos. Soon, Prince Tamino is led to Pamina by three genies of the temple.

Sarastro knows that Tamino and Pamina are meant for each other, but first they must undergo tests to see if they are worthy of entering the Temple of Light.

Suddenly, Pamina's mother, the Queen of the Night, appears and orders Pamina to kill Sarastro. Pamina later tells Sarastro, who assures her that it won't happen because only love enters the temple.

Meanwhile, an old crone has latched on to Papageno, who only desires a nice wife and some children. Later, the crone reveals herself to be a beautiful bird-woman named Papagena.

After many trials and a last-minute attempt by the Queen of the Night and Monostatos to break up the young Prince Tamino and Pamina, goodness prevails.

'Albert Herring' by Benjamin Britten

The comic opera was written in 1947 but takes place in 1900 in an English village. It's time for the May Day Festival and selection of the Queen of the May. The problem is, none of the young girls in the town is a virgin, a strict requirement to wear the crown.

To solve the problem, the school superintendent suggests that the town select a King of the May instead. And he knows just the person: the shy young Albert Herring.

Albert accepts the honor, despite some teasing, but, in his timidity, gulps a big glass of lemonade that has been spiked. He accepts the prize money and disappears.

When his white crown of flowers is found in the depths of the well, the townsfolk begin to mourn. As they weep, Albert strolls back into town, a smile on his face as he thanks the festival committee for financing his big night out.

'Suor Angelica' by Giancomo Puccini

This one-act opera has a simple, linear plot, with only four characters: the sad and almost silent Sister Angelica, who lives in a convent; the Abbess; the Monitor; and the Princess, who is Angelica's aunt.

The scene is set in the first three sections of the opera, when the postulants hurry to chapel together to say prayers while Sister Angelica keeps herself apart from them.

The Princess arrives, an elegant and distant older woman. Angelica's sister is to be married, and the Princess wants Angelica to sign papers to turn over the entire fortune left to the siblings by their deceased parents. Angelica does - and then, to the wonder of those near her, begs for news of her little illegitimate son, who is the reason she was sent to the convent.

The Princess tells Angelica the boy died two years ago, then leaves. Later, in despair, Angelica decides to commit suicide. She makes and drinks a poisonous potion, then realizes that by taking her own life, she will never see her son in heaven. Frantically, she prays to Mary for forgiveness.

A miracle occurs: The Madonna herself appears, leading a small boy by the hand. Angelica dies, knowing that she is forgiven.

[Last modified July 19, 2007, 22:39:30]