This opera was taken from both the ballet “The Gypsy” and a romance by Cervantes. It is filled with sparkling choruses and charming orchestration and melodies which remain as fresh as the day they were first heard upon the stage.
In Austria on the grounds of a chateau, Count Arnheim is about to go begin a hunt. After the count says goodbye to his small daughter Arline, a Polish excile, Thaddeus enters, pursued by Austrian soldiers; he sings “Tis Sad to leave your Fatherland.”
A band of gypsies enter, lead by Devilshoof. Thaddeus decides to join the troupe and the band sings “In the Gypsies’ Life you Read,” a rousing chorus. Suddenly the Count’s nephew enters (Florestein) begging help for his young cousin, Arline, who is being attacked by a fierce wild animal. Thaddeus dashes to her rescue and kills the stag.
When Count Arnheim hears of his daughter’s rescue, he invites Thaddeus to a banquet and showers him with thanks. During the banquet, Thaddeus refuses to drink to the health of his sworn enemy, the Austrian Emperor. The gypsy and the Polish exile are dragged off to the castle for the insult, but find an escape route, during which Devilshoof kidnaps young Arline.
Act 2 finds the gypsy band in the streets of Presburg. Arline has been raised by the gypsies, and is sleeping in the gypsy queen’s tent. Thaddeaus is standing guard over her, as they are now lovers. Upon awakening, Arline sings the incredibly beautiful “I dreamt I dwelt in Marble Halls.” Thaddeaus knows that it is true, but will not enlighten her for fear of losing his love. He does, however, tell her of her rescue by his hands from the stag, low these 12 years ago, as he shows her the scar left by the stag.
While moving down the street together, the queen, Devilshoof, Arline, and Thaddeaus sing a lovely, harmonious quartet: “From the Valleys and Hills.” Meanwhile the gypsies have fallen upon the Count’s nephew, Florestein, and made him lighter of his jewelry. Florestein makes a pass at Arline which she rebuffs. The queen of the gypsies sees a way to rid herself of the troublesome Arline and thereby win the heart of Thaddeaus herself. She bestows upon Arline one of the medals stolen from Florestein, as she joins the hands of Thaddeaus and Arline in the gypsy marriage. Florestein sees the medal on the girl and calls for her arrest. She is taken to the hall of justice to stand before her weary, saddened father who has given her up for dead long ago. The Count has just sung the sorrowful lament “The Heart Bowed Down.”
The Count is enthralled by the lovely young prisoner. She is so humbled by being on trial, that she makes to end her life, whereupon the Count notices the scar on her arm. He inquires and she relates the story Thaddeaus had told her. He of course immediately knows this is his lost Arline!
Act 3 finds us in the Count’s Castle. Arline is lonely and alone. She is still in love with Thaddeaus but he is lost to her. She refuses all possible suitors. Devilshoof finds a way to gain entrance to Arline. The lovers once again declair their undying love as Thaddeaus sings the ardent, incredible “When Other Lips and Other Hearts.”
There are guests arriving at the Chateau to welcome Arline back to her position. At the ceremony, the queen of the gypsies tells the Count of the men who are hiding in the chambers of his daughter. When they are discovered, father denounces daughter. But as the daughter declares her love for this man, Thaddeaus declares that he is to the noble born and the father yields for the happiness of his only daughter so recently returned to him. This infuriates the gypsy who orders her followers to kill both Thaddeaus and Arline! Devilshoof is able to alter the position of the gun, causing the death of the queen.
For more thorough information regarding “The Bohemian Girl,” please click on the link below.
The Bohemian Girl
Irish Ring
Opera Index
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