Madama Cortese, proprietress of the “Golden Lily” Inn, a bathing establishment at Plombières, urges her staff to hurry up and help in the preparations for the journey to Reims that her guests are about to undertake that very evening, in…Read more ›

PROLOGUE The Animal Tamer invites the audience to visit his menagerie—featuring “the serpent Lulu.” ACT I Lulu is sitting for her portrait, observed by Dr. Schön, a wealthy newspaper publisher and her long-time lover. Alone with Lulu, the Painter tries…Read more ›

Act I The Palace of Westminster. After a tourney in honor of the French ambassador, who is negotiating with Queen Elisabetta concerning a marriage proposal from the King of France (“Qui si attenda, ell’è vicina”). Elisabetta shows a sense of…Read more ›

PART ONE THE DUEL The guard room in the Aljaferia Palace in Zaragoza, residence of the kings of Aragon. In a hall of the palace the men-at-arms of the Count of Luna are keeping watch. Ferrando, the captain of the…Read more ›

ACT ONE In a Naples café two young officers, Guglielmo and Ferrando, are deep in conversation with the elderly philosopher Don Alfonso. Both are convinced that their mistresses – named Fiordiligi and Dorabella respectively – are utterly faithful, but the…Read more ›

Act One The scene is laid on board Tristan’s ship, during the crossing from Ireland to Cornwall. Isolde is on the deck of the ship which is carrying her from Ireland to Cornwall. She is the prisoner of Tristan, who…Read more ›