Fra Diavolo, leader of the brigands.
Lord Allcash, English nobleman.
Lady Allcash, his wife.
Matteo, innkeeper.
Zerlina, Matteo's daughter.
Lorenzo, Zerlina's lover.
Beppo, }
Giacomo, } brigands.
The scene is laid at the village of Terracina, Italy; time, last
century.
The first act of this universally favorite opera opens with the hurried
arrival of Lord Allcash, a typical English tourist, and his wife, at the
inn of Terracina, kept by Matteo, whose daughter, Zerlina, is loved by
Lorenzo, a young soldier. The latter is about to start for the capture of
Fra Diavolo, the leader of the bandits, when the action of the opera
begins. The English tourists have been robbed on their journey by the
band of this same Fra Diavolo, who has followed them in the disguise of a
marquis and has been very attentive to the susceptible Lady Allcash. Lord
Allcash has a quarrel with his wife on this account in a humorous duet,
"I don't object." Fra Diavolo learns that the travellers have saved the
most of their valuables, and lays his own plans to secure them. In an
interview with Zerlina, she, mistaking him for the Marquis, sings him the
story of Fra Diavolo in a romanza, "On Yonder Rock Reclining," which has
become a favorite the world over. To further his schemes he makes love to
Lady Allcash in a graceful barcarole, "The Gondolier, Fond Passion's
Slave." In the finale of the act Lorenzo and his carbineers return, and
not finding Fra Diavolo at the inn, where they had hoped to surprise him,
resume their search, leaving him to perfect his plans for the robbery.
In the opening scene of the second act Zerlina is in her chamber,
preparing to retire. Before doing so, she lights Lord and Lady Allcash to
their room. During her absence Fra Diavolo and his companions, Beppo and
Giacomo, conceal themselves in her closet, Fra Diavolo having previously
given them the signal that the coast was clear by singing a serenade,
"Young Agnes," in violation of every rule of dramatic consistency.
Zerlina returns, and after singing a simple but charming prayer, "Oh!
Holy Virgin," retires to rest. In attempting to cross the room they
partially awake her. One of the bandits rushes to the bed to stab her,
but desists from his purpose as he hears her murmuring her prayer. Then
follows a trio by the robbers, sung pianissimo, which is very dramatic in
its effect. At this point the carbineers return again, and the house at
once is in an uproar. Lord and Lady Allcash rush in to find out the
cause, followed by Lorenzo, who came to greet Zerlina. A sudden noise in
the closet disturbs them. Fra Diavolo, knowing that he will be
discovered, steps out into the room, and declares he is there to keep an
appointment with Zerlina, whereupon Lorenzo challenges him. He accepts
the challenge and coolly walks out of the room. One of his comrades is
captured, but to secure his liberty agrees to betray his chief.
The opening of the third act finds Fra Diavolo once more among his native
mountains. He gives expression to his exultation in a dashing, vigorous
song, "Proudly and wide my Standard flies," followed by the pretty rondo,
"Then since Life glides so fast away." As he joyously contemplates a
speedy meeting with Lord and Lady Allcash and the securing of their
valuables, villagers arrayed in festival attire in honor of the
approaching nuptials of Lorenzo and Zerlina enter, singing a bright
pastoral chorus, "Oh, Holy Virgin, bright and fair." The finale of the
act is occupied with the development of the scheme between Lorenzo,
Beppo, and Giacomo to ensnare Fra Diavolo, and the final tragedy in which
he meets his death at the hands of the carbineers, but not before he has
declared Zerlina's innocence. The text of the opera is full of vivacity
and humor, and the music so bright and melodious and yet artistically
scored that it made Auber's reputation at the Opéra Comique.
The Crown Diamonds.
[Opéra comique, in three acts; text by Scribe and St. George. First
produced in Paris in 1841; in English, at the Princess Theatre, London,
May 2, 1844.]