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Opera Music Plot Synopsis
Soliva: La Testa di Bronzo
1st Act
The court of Adolfo, Prince of Pressburg (now Bratislava).
Tollo directs the
servants to prepare the rooms for the wedding of Adolfo with
Floresca, a
Polish countess.
The prince enters, accompanied by his secretary Ermanno. Ermanno,
knowing that
Floresca is already secretly married to the young Francesco,
reminds the
prince of the late Elisa, his former sweetheart. But Adolfo
wishes to forget
the past.
After the prince's departure Ermanno speaks with Riccardo,
an officer of the
guard, about how to prevent the marriage.
The entry aria of Floresca express her doubts: Ermanno has
advised her to
continue to conceal her marriage with Francesco, but time
and opportunities to
mend the situation are running out. The chorus appears and
greets the bride.
Ermanno tells Floresca that Francesco, an officer, having
heard of the
impending marriage, has left the army without permission and
is now pursued as
a deserter. He is now hidden in the palace. (Ermanno goes
to a bronze head,
unlocks a hidden door, and Francesco appears.)
Francesco plans to flee with Floresca: first to the hut in
the woods where he
lived as a child, then out of the country. He returns to the
hiding place
under the bronze head. Tollo appears, and Ermanno is forced
to leave without
taking the key from the secret door.
Tollo cleans the heads. He sees a key in the very one which
always frightens
him: he turns the key and Francesco appears. Tollo believes
the statue has
come alive: he promises to obey and gives Francesco his coat.
The chorus wishes happiness to Adolfo and Floresca.
Riccardo announces Francesco's desertation. Ermanno tries
to calm the prince
when knocks from the floor are heard. Adolfo, who knows of
the hiding place,
asks Ermanno to open it. He must obey: Tollo appears and tells
them that the
statue had locked him in there. Adolfo accuses Ermanno of
helping the
desertor. When Floresca tries to intercede the prince suspects
an affair
between her and Francesco. He promises to punish the traitors
and the act ends
in disarray.
2nd Act
The countryside near the Danube. A reward has been posted
for Francesco's
capture. Tollo and the servants are armed and searching for
him.
Tollo arrives at the hut of his aunt Anna. He tells her in
a comical way about
his adventure with the bronze statue. A storm begins, so Tollo,
Anna and a
number of armed men take refuge in the hut.
Francesco arrives. He recognizes his childhood home. He approaches
the door,
but hearing voices he hides himself.
Tollo says that Anna has persuaded him to help the fugitive.
Francesco hears
him and appears, but Tollo is frightened and calls for help.
Floresca and her servants are also searching for Francesco.
They are all
disguised as soldiers. They promise the reward to Tollo, and
they take the
prisoner into their custody. Ermanno appears. The scheme seems
about to
succeed when Riccardo and the guards burst in. Floresca (still
disguised) is
captured.
Adolfo is directing the search. Riccardo is reporting to him
when Tollo comes
and announces that Francesco has been taken. The prince orders
the prisoners
brought to him immediately.
Adolfo is amazed when he recognizes Floresca. When she tells
him that
Francesco is her secret husband the prince promises to sentence
him to death.
Riccardo brings Francesco, who immediately embraces Floresca.
The prince
separates them and announces an immediate trial of the traitor.
Anna hears from Tollo what is happening and says that she
must speak to the
prince, because Francesco is the orphan she has raised.
The prince and the court-martial are in Anna's home. Riccardo,
who is worried
because Ermanno does not appear, does not allow her to interfere.
Francesco has been sentenced to death. Floresca, Anna and
Tollo ask Adolfo for
pardon: he is immovable.
Ermanno appears and tells Adolfo that Francesco is his son
by Elisa. The
prince is upset when a burst of shots announces that the sentence
has already
been carried out. Everyone is in despair.
Anna and Tollo are caring for Floresca, who has fainted. She
wakens and
laments the loss of Francesco when the chorus announces that
he is still
alive. Riccardo, afraid that Ermanno would arrive too late,
had removed the
bullets from the guns of the firing squad. The prince has
ordered a great
celebration.
Open-air party. Everyone celebrates the happy ending: Adolfo
is delighted at
having found his son and has consented to his marriage with
Floresca.
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