The King.
The Queen.
Donna Irene, the Queen's confidante.
Marquis of Villareal.
Cervantes, poet.
Count Villaboisy Roderiguez, Prime Minister.
Don Sancho de Avellaneda, tutor to the King.
Marquis de la Mancha Villareal, Minister of War.
Duke of Feria, Minister of Finance.
Count San Gregorio, Minister of the Interior.
Count Ermos, Minister of the Navy.
Don Diego de Barados, Minister of Police.
Dancing-Master.
Master of Ceremonies.
Antonio, innkeeper.
[Students, doctors, ladies and gentlemen of the court, toreadors,
brigands, etc.]
The scene is laid in Portugal; time, the year 1570.
The romance of the story of "The Queen's Lace Handkerchief" has helped to
make this opera one of the most popular of Strauss' works. The action
begins at a time when Portugal is ruled by a ministry whose premier is in
league with Philip II. of Spain, and who, to keep possession of power,
has fomented trouble between the young Queen and King, and encouraged the
latter in all kinds of dissipations. At this time Cervantes, the poet,
who has been banished from Spain, is a captain in the Royal Guards, and
in love with Irene, a lady in waiting. These two are good friends of both
the King and Queen, and are eager to depose the ministry. Cervantes is
reader to the Queen, and the latter, having a sentimental attachment for
him, writes upon her handkerchief, "A queen doth love thee, yet art thou
no king," and placing it in a volume of "Don Quixote," hands it to him.
The book is seized, and as "Don Quixote" is Minister of War and "Sancho
Panza" Minister of Instruction, Cervantes is arrested for libel and
treason. Irene and the King, however, save him by proving him insane, and
the King and Queen ascend the throne. In desperation the premier hands
the King the handkerchief with the inscription on it, which leads to the
re-arrest of Cervantes and the banishment of the Queen to a convent.
Cervantes escapes, however, and joins some brigands. They capture the
Queen on her way to the convent, and in the disguise of the host and
waiting-maid of an inn, they serve the King, who happens there on a
hunting-trip. Everything is satisfactorily accounted for, and the
inscription on the handkerchief is explained as a message which the Queen
sent to the King by Cervantes.
The music is light and brilliant. Much of it is in the waltz movement,
and the choral work is a strong feature. Its best numbers are the Queen's
humorous romanza, "It was a wondrous Fair and Starry Night"; another
humorous number, the King's truffle song, "Such Dish by Man not oft is
seen"; the epicurean duet for the King and premier, "These Oysters are
great"; Cervantes' recitative, "Once sat a Youth," in the finale of the
first act: a dainty little romanza for Cervantes, "Where the Wild Rose
sweetly doth blow"; the trio and chorus, "Great Professors, Learned
Doctors"; the fine duet for the King and Cervantes, "Brighter Glance on
him shall repose"; Sancho's vivacious couplet, "In the Night his Zither
holding"; the Queen's showy song, "Seventeen Years had just passed o'er
me"; and the two closing choruses, "Now the King all hail," in march
time, and the Bull-fight, which is full of dash and spirit.
Queen Indigo.
[Opera comique, in three acts; text by Jaime and Wilder. First produced
in Vienna, February 10, 1871.]