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Korngold’s Die tote Stadt takes its libretto from the novel “Bruges la morte” by the Belgian Symbolist poet Georges Rodenbach and from the poet’s personal dramatization of stated novel. The plot of the opera takes place in Bruges, the useless metropolis, wearily dreaming of the previous amid the mystic peace of its church buildings and cloisters, its bells, its weather-worn Gothic façades, and its stagnant waterways and deserted canals.
Synopsis of Die tote Stadt
ACT ONE
Nineties, a solemn room in Paul’s home within the metropolis of Bruges, Belgium
Paul’s housekeeper, Brigitte, and his pal Frank enter an artwork studio that homes mementoes of Paul’s late spouse, Marie. For 2 years, Paul has mourned his useless spouse, sustaining the room as a form of shrine. It’s full of Marie’s portraits and belongings, together with a braid of her lengthy blonde hair displayed in a glass case. Earlier than at present, Brigitte tells Frank, Paul spoke usually of how he and Bruges, the useless metropolis, have been one, each caught in worshipping the great thing about the previous. Yesterday, nevertheless, Paul returned from his standard stroll laughing and shouting with pleasure. “The useless are resurrected!” he cried, earlier than ordering Brigitte to open the room and embellish Marie’s keepsakes with flowers.
Frank is astonished, however Paul quickly arrives, bursting with pleasure. Marie is alive, he tells Frank, restored to him by way of a girl he met yesterday, a girl who seems to be and sounds nearly precisely like Marie. Paul believes Marie has returned to him on this girl. Frank warns Paul that making an attempt to regulate demise is a harmful sport. Paul, nevertheless, refuses to pay attention, enthralled by the concept his spouse has someway come again to him on this girl, Marietta.
Frank leaves simply as Brigitte proclaims the arrival of a girl. Marietta enters, and Paul marvels at what appears to be the presence of his useless spouse returning to her rooms. At Paul’s request, Marietta dons a shawl and performs a lute, unaware these things as soon as belonged to Marie.
A gaggle of theater performers passes by outdoors, singing a comic book music about kissing a mistress. Marietta greets them and tells Paul she should comply with them to rehearsal since she is a dancer on the theater. When she dances, Marietta explains, she feels as if “a demon excites me, masters me, possesses me.” Paul is shocked by Marietta’s career and fervour however declares heaven has despatched her to him. He tries to embrace Marietta, who dances across the room to tease him. As she dances, Marietta turns into tangled in a curtain hiding Marie’s portrait. The curtain falls, revealing a portray of Paul’s spouse with the identical scarf and lute Marietta now holds. Marietta understands Paul is utilizing her to placate the lack of one other girl and leaves for the theater, the place she is dancing the function of Helen in Robert le Diable.
Paul calls to Marietta, however she is gone. As he stands distraught, Marie steps out from the portray behind him. Marie tells Paul her presence nonetheless haunts the home and, by way of the facility of the hair she left behind, the braid within the glass case, she’s going to hold watch over their dwelling. Paul sinks in despair however then remembers Marietta dancing and calls her identify as soon as once more.
ACT TWO
Late night a number of months later, a canal and road bordering Marietta’s home in Bruges
Paul stands on the road nook, watching Marietta’s window. She didn’t seem on the theater, and he has come to see if she is with one other man.
A gaggle of nuns passes by on their solution to mass. Paul acknowledges one of many nuns, Brigitte, his former housekeeper. Brigitte maintains his sinful relationship with Marietta drove her away, however Paul believes he isn’t betraying Marie, who has returned to him within the type of Marietta. Brigitte says she doesn’t perceive him and follows her sisters into mass.
Frank arrives and notices Paul watching Marietta’s home. Frank confronts Paul, telling him to return dwelling to the reminiscence of his spouse. Paul refuses. Frank confesses he’s in a relationship with Marietta, and, to show it, reveals Paul the important thing Marietta has given him to her home. Paul snatches the important thing, and Frank staggers away.
Simply then, a ship of Marietta’s fellow dancers floats alongside the canal in direction of her home. They’re coming to see why she missed her efficiency on the theatre. Paul hides and watches as they sing and chortle. Marietta enters on the arm of a good-looking man named Gaston. The dancers tease Marietta for abandoning her gloomy companion (Paul) in favor of this new relationship. Marietta drinks champagne and flirts as Paul spies on her.
Paul reveals his secret to Marietta: he has beloved her solely as a shadow of his real love for Marie. Shocked, Marietta confronts Paul with the truth that she herself has introduced him happiness. She insists Paul confess his love for her, Marietta, not Marie. Paul admits his love for Marietta and agrees to take her to his dwelling, the place she plans to banish Marie’s ghost without end!
ACT THREE
Morning the next day, the room of mementos in Paul’s dwelling
Marietta enters in her nightgown. She compares the powerless image of the useless girl to her personal vibrant wishes. As she sings, an Easter celebration begins outdoors. Kids within the procession sing of life as Paul rushes in, distraught. The prayers and music of the church have woke up his regret for betraying his spouse. Marietta laughs and sings of Gaston as Paul turns into enthralled with the procession, his guilt mounting till, lastly, he bows in prayer because the relic passes by. Marietta declares she is not going to share Paul with the useless, whether or not they be saints or his spouse, and calls for a kiss. Repulsed and overwhelmed with grief, Paul envisions the procession getting into the room, condemning him for betraying his sacred love for Marie.
Marietta is insulted that Paul prefers mourning the useless to like and life along with her. Paul orders her to go away, however she insists she’s going to overcome her useless rival and shatters the glass case with Marie’s braided hair. Marietta then winds the braid about her neck like a shawl and dances mockingly earlier than Marie’s portrait. Livid at this desecration, Paul strangles Marietta with the golden braid as darkness falls on stage.
EPILOGUE
The darkness lifts as Paul stands bewildered. The room seems to be untouched. Marie’s hair is within the case simply as earlier than and nothing has been broken. Brigitte enters, telling him that the lady who was simply with him has returned. Astounded, Paul watches as Marietta enters, retrieves her parasol, after which leaves. Frank enters, and Paul realizes his relationship with Marietta was an phantasm despatched as a warning of what risks might fall if he continues to mourn his spouse so fiercely. He tells Frank he’ll attempt to go away the useless metropolis of Bruges and is lastly able to say goodbye to Marie.
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