Plunkett, a wealthy young farmer.
Lionel, his adopted brother, afterwards Earl of Derby.
Lord Tristan Mickleford, Lady Henrietta's cousin.
Sheriff of Richmond, footman to Lady Henrietta.
Lady Henrietta, Maid of Honor to the Queen.
Nancy, her waiting-maid.
Molly Pitt, }
Polly Smith, }
Betsy Witt, } servants.
[Farmers, farmers' wives, servants, ladies, hunters, huntresses, and
footmen.]
The scene is laid in Richmond, England; time of Queen Anne.
The first act of "Martha," unquestionably the most popular of all light
operas, opens during the progress of the servants' fair at Richmond,
whither Lady Henrietta, maid of honor to the Queen, accompanied by Nancy,
her maid, and Sir Tristan, her aged cousin and admirer, tired of court
life, have resorted in the disguise of servants. In the first three
scenes they arrange their masquerade. Sir Tristan, much to his disgust,
is to be known as John, and Lady Henrietta as Martha. The first number is
a duet for the two ladies, "Of the Knights so Brave and Charming,"
followed by an animated trio with Sir Tristan, in dance time. The fourth
scene is laid in the market-place, in which appear Plunkett, a wealthy
farmer, and Lionel, his adopted brother. The parentage of the latter is
unknown, but he has a souvenir from his father in the form of a ring
which he is to present to the Queen whenever he shall find himself in
trouble. Lionel tells his story in a tenor aria, "Lost, proscribed, a
Humble Stranger," which has been a favorite song the world over for
years. The two have come to the fair to engage servants for the year, who
are bound over by the sheriff. Plunkett and Lionel meet Martha and Nancy,
and are so delighted with their looks that they tender the customary
bonus which secures them. They accept it as a joke, but find that it is a
serious matter when the young farmers drive off with them, leaving Sir
Tristan in despair.
The second act opens in Plunkett's farmhouse. After having learned their
names, Plunkett attempts to find out what they can do, and tests them
first at the spinning-wheel, which leads up to the delightful spinning
quartette, "When the Foot the Wheel turns lightly." It does not take the
brothers long to find out that they have engaged servants who are more
ornamental than useful, but they decide to keep them. Nancy in a pet
kicks her wheel over and runs off, followed by Plunkett, leaving Lionel
alone with Martha. He at once falls in love with her, snatches a rose
from her bosom, and refuses to return it unless she will sing. She
replies with the familiar song, "The Last Rose of Summer," interpolated
by Flotow, and made still more effective by introducing the tenor in the
refrain. He asks for her hand, but she makes sport of him. In the mean
time Plunkett and Nancy return, and a beautiful Good-night quartette
follows, "Midnight Sounds." The brothers then retire, and Martha and
Nancy, aided by Sir Tristan, make their escape. The next scene opens in
the woods where farmers are carousing; among them Plunkett, who sings a
rollicking drinking-song, "I want to ask you." The revel is interrupted
by a hunting-party of court ladies, headed by the Queen. Martha and Nancy
are among them, and are recognized by Plunkett and Lionel, but they are
not recognized in turn. Plunkett attempts to seize Nancy, but the
huntresses drive him off, leaving Lionel and Lady Henrietta alone. The
scene is one of the most effective in the opera, and contains a beautiful
tenor solo, "Like a Dream Bright and Fair"--better known perhaps by its
Italian title, "M'appari," and a romance for soprano, "Here in Deepest
Forest Shadows," the act closing with a finely concerted quintette and
chorus. The despairing Lionel bethinks him of his ring, gives it to
Plunkett, and asks him to show it to the Queen. It proves that he is the
only son of the late Earl of Derby, and his estate, of which he has been
unjustly deprived, is restored to him.
The opera reaches its musical climax in the second act. The third is
mainly devoted to the dénouement. The Lady Henrietta, who has really been
seriously in love with Lionel, is united to him, and it hardly needs to
be added that Nancy and Plunkett go and do likewise.
Stradella.
[Romantic opera, in three acts; text by Deschamps and Pacini. First
produced as a lyric drama at the Palais Royal Theatre, Paris, in 1837;
rewritten and produced in its present form, at Hamburg, December 30,
1844.]