THE BOHEMIAN GIRL " The Bohemian Girl," an opera in three acts, is the composition of Michael William Balfe, with words by Bunn founded on the ballet " The Gypsy." It was pro duced at Drury Lane. London. Nov. 27, 1843.
Count Arnheim, Governor of Presburg.
Thaddeus, a proscribed Pole.
Florestein, nephew of the Count.
Devilshoof, Chief of the Gypsy tribe.
Arline, the Count's daughter.
Buda, her attendant.
Queen of the Gypsies.
Nobles, soldiers, gypsies, retainers, peasants.
The setting of the opera is Austrian. The first act opens upon the homestead of the Count Arnheim. The chase is about to begin and the Count, with his small daughter Arline and nephew Florestein, joins his retainers before the chateau. As they depart for the sport, Thaddeus rushes in, closely pursued by the Austrian soldiery. Devils hoof and his gypsy band, arriving at this instant, overhear his expression of grief over exile and prevail upon him to join their nomadic band. He straightway brings favor upon himself and his new friends by rescuing Arline from a stag. The Count makes him an honored guest at the feast but at his refusal to drink the health of the Emperor, the soldiers fall upon him. Devilshoof interferes and is imprisoned in the castle, as a consequence. Thaddeus, finding his welcome vanished, departs, but the unlucky banquet is again interrupted by the discovery that the gypsy has escaped and for revenge has taken with him the daughter of the host.
An interval of twelve years elapses between the first and second acts. Count Arnheim never has found a trace of Arline and mourns her as dead. The action opens in the gypsy camp which has been pitched near Presburg. It is evening and Arline, asleep in the tent of the gypsy Queen, is watched over by Thaddeus. The gypsies are bent upon their usual nocturnal raid. Florestein, who is returning intoxicated from a revel, proves the victim and is relieved of his valuables, among them a diamond-set medallion which Devilshoof carries off. The Queen of the gypsies appears and demands the restitution of everything but the medallion is for the time being beyond recovery. Meanwhile, in the tent, Arline has awakened and Thaddeus declares his love for her and finds it is returned. He points to the scar upon her arm and tells her the story of her rescue from the stag but does not disclose the secret of her birth. The Queen, who is in love with Thaddeus, at first displays her jealousy but afterwards concludes to appear to favor the affair, in order to secure her vengeance. The scene shifts to the city streets, where a fair is in progress. The gypsies are flocking thither. Florestein,
attracted by Arline's beauty, insults her and is rebuked in no uncertain fashion. The Queen, as if in approval, hangs the medallion about the girl's neck and the angry Flo restein, seeing it there a moment later, has her arrested for theft. The final scene of the act is devoted to the trial of Arline, which Count Arnheim conducts. In its progress, he notices the scar upon the girl's arm. He asks its cause and she recounts the story which Thaddeus has told her, thus establishing her identity.
The last act played in the salon of Count Arnheim finds Arline in her old position as daughter of the house and pursued by the dissolute Florestein, whose unwelcome attentions only endear to her the memory of Thaddeus. Through the offices of the ever-faithful Devilshoof, the lovers meet and renew their vows. Thaddeus conceals himself as visitors enter to be presented to the reinstated young Countess but the gypsy Queen has followed him to the castle and discovers him to the assemblage. He is ordered to leave but Arline announces her resolve to go with him. Her father relents on learning of the young Pole's distinguished birth and consents to their union. The Queen of the gypsies resolves upon a desperate move and orders one of her people to shoot Thaddeus, but Devilshoof, by a swift movement, changes the course of the bullet to her own heart.
This famous ballad opera, which scored an instant success, has a permanent hold on public affection, for its story is prettily romantic and is attractively told, while its music is so tuneful that it has endeared itself to melody lovers the world over. It is by far the best known of Balfe's works.
Among the songs which countless thousands still delight in hearing and singing are Count Arnheim's solo, "A Soldier's Life;" " 'Tis sad to leave your fatherland," a pathetic number sung by Thaddeus; the recurring gypsy chorus, " In the gypsy's life you read; " the fervent prayer, " Thou who in might supreme; " Arline's song, " I dreamed that I dwelt in marble halls;" the duet for Thaddeus and Arline, " The secret of her birth; " Arline's song at the fair to the accompaniment of castanets, " Come with the gypsy bride; " " From the valleys and hills, " sung by Arline, the Queen, Thaddeus and Devilshoof; the Count's song, " The Heart bowed down; " the ensemble, " Praised be the will of heaven; " Thaddeus' song, " Then You'll remember Me " and, in the finale, his number, " When the fair land of Poland."