MASANIELLO " Masaniello, or La Muette de Portici " (" The Dumb Girl of Portici "), a grand opera in five acts, the music by Daniel Auber and text by Scribe and Delavigne, was first presented in Paris, Feb. 29, 1828.
Alfonso D'Areos, son of the Viceroy of Naples. Lorenzo, his confidant.
Selva, an officer of the Viceroy's guard. Masaniello, a fisherman of Naples.
Pietro, his friend.
Borella, fishermen.
Moreno, Elvira, a Spanish Princess betrothed to Alfonso. A maid of honor of the Princess.
Fenella, a dumb girl, Masaniello's sister.
Chorus of nobles, ladies, soldiers, fishermen and peasants.
This opera, which takes its tone from the Neapolitan revolution of 1647, opens with one of the charming lighter scenes which form a happy contrast to its cumulating tragedy. It is the marriage morn of Alfonso and Elvira and attendant festivities are in progress. They are interrupted by the entrance of the dumb girl, Fenella, who runs to Elvira, imploring her protection from Selva, who has kept her as the viceroy's prisoner for a month. She has escaped and she tells the story of her seduction in gestures, showing the scarf which her unknown betrayer has given her. All of her role is, of course, done in pantomime. The happy Elvira promises the dumb girl her protection and she and Alfonso enter the chapel to exchange their wedding vows. During the ceremony, Fenella recognizes the bridegroom as her betrayer and attempts to warn Elvira but is prevented by the soldiers. As they leave the chapel, Fenella denounces Alfonso to • his bride and then flees, the act closing in the midst of great excitement and dismay.
It is at the beginning of the second act that Masaniello makes his appearance. This scene is laid upon the seashore, where the fisher-folk are busily engaged with nets and boats. Masaniello enters moodily, sorrowing over the oppression of the people. They, seeing their hero, ask him for a song to lighten their labor. As he is singing, Pietro enters, telling of a fruitless search for Fenella, about whom many fears are entertained. At this instant Masaniello beholds his unfor tunate sister about to cast herself into the sea. He restrains her and in his arms she tells the story of her wrongs, con cealing, however, the name of Alfonso, whom she loves. Masaniello, enraged, swears vengeance and calls the fishermen to arms against the despotic sway which has made the crime against his sister possible.
The third act shifts to the Neapolitan market-place, where the fishermen and market-girls are disposing of their fish and fruit. They go about their task with apparent gaiety under which is concealed the rising fire of revolt. There is a lively chorus and a picturesque Neapolitan taren tella is danced but as quickly as a cloud goes over the sun, the spirit changes to one of foreboding. Selva, the viceroy's officer, discovers Fenella again and attempts to arrest her. This is a sign for a general uprising and, in the struggle, the people are victorious.
The fourth act opens in Masaniello's dwelling. Fenella comes from the town and describes the tumult there. Her recital of these horrors fills Masaniello's noble and gentle soul with anguish. Fatigued, she falls asleep. Pietro comes
to tell Masaniello that Alfonso has escaped. He attempts to incite his smoldering passions. They go away together but scarcely have they gone when Alfonso and Elvira beg at the door to be granted a hiding within. Fenella admits them and Masaniello, returning, is prevailed upon to promise his protection. At this apparent sign of weakness Pietro and his fellow conspirators leave him in disgust. Mean while, however, the magistrate and citizens enter and present Masaniello with the crown and he is proclaimed King of Naples.
The last act is intense in its tragedy and powerful in its musical effect. It opens with Pietro and his fellow con spirators stationed before the viceroy's palace, with the smoke of Vesuvius rising in the blue distance. Pietro con fides to one of his companions that he has administered poison to Masaniello to punish him for his treason and that he will be king for only a day. At this point a messenger brings the news that soldiers are marching against the people and, to add to the terror, they cry out that Vesuvius is about to burst into flames. Added to this, they learn that Masa niello to whom the people had looked to save them, is ill unto death and half bereft of reason. He comes, however, at their request but in disordered dress, reeling and delirious. Fenella tries to quiet him but he turns and plunges into the conflict. He is at last killed by his own comrades while in the act of saving Elvira's life. Fenella places Elvira's hand in Alfonso's, rushes to the terrace, and throws herself into the molten river flowing from the volcano.
In " Masaniello," which is founded in part on actual incidents, Auber gains a height which he never reached before or after. It is essentially revolutionary in spirit and has at all times taken a hold upon the popular imagination. The riots in Brussels directed against the Dutch as well as several similar uprisings were incited by it. There is small wonder, for in it the wildest passion of popular fury has sway. " Masaniello " made a sensation at its appearance from the fact that it was the first realistic drama in five acts which possessed the attributes of a tragedy. The Ger mans, in particular, had always considered it proper to send people home in a comfortable frame of mind.
The prominent number in Act I is Elvira's song expressive of her happiness, " 0 bel Momento " (" 0 moment fair "). In Act II, the barcarole, " Piu hello sorse it giorno " (" More fair now wakes the day ") is best known. In Act III, the prayer of the fishermen before the combat, " Nume del Ciel " (" Spirits of Heav'n ") is taken from one of Auber's early masses. In Act IV, Masaniello's exquisite song of Sleep. " Scendi, o sonno dal ciel " (" Softly descending, sweet slumber "), and in Act V, Pietro's song to guitar accompaniment, " Ve' come it vento irato " (" 'Tis like the rushing wind ") and the song of Masaniello's delirium, in which the half remembered notes of fishermen's songs are heard are worthy of mention.