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1949 - The Gondoliers

The Story

ACT I.
One of the most gay and joyous of the operas, " The Gondoliers " opens in the brilliant sunshine of Venice, where Marco and Guiseppe, two gondoliers, are busy choosing their brides from a group of love-sick maidens. No sooner have they gone to celebrate their wedding when the Duke of Plaza-Toro arrives, accompanied by his duchess, together with his servant Luiz and his daughter Casilda who are secretly in love. They have come to Venice to interview the Grand Inquisitor concerning Casilda's rights, for it appears that when a babe she was married to the late King of Barataria's infant son, who was shortly after kidnapped and brought to Venice, where, it is alleged, he is now acting as a gondolier. Luiz is therefore sent to find his mother, who was the child's nurse, so that the true identity of the new King may be established.
The wedding party now returns, only to be startled by the Grand Inquisitor who tells them that he believes one of the two gondoliers to be the missing King. Until it can be decided which of them is the rightful King, Marco and Guiseppe agree to go together to Barataria and there reign jointly. Thus Act I ends as they sail away, leaving their brides, Gianetta and Tessa, reluctantly behind them.
ACT II.
The scene has changed to the Pavilion of the Court of Barataria. Seated side by side, Marco and Guiseppe are surrounded by gondoliers and a general air of enjoyment prevails. Soon however their brides appear, unable to endure in Venice the boredom of separation. In the midst of the hilarity of reunion, the Grand Inquisitor arrives to inform Marco and Guiseppe of the expected arrival of the Duke and Casilda, adding that she is the bride of one of them, and soothing the outraged feelings of Gianetta and Tessa with true civil service tact, remarking that they will soon have an answer to their dilemma.
Fortunately, all turns out well. The mother of Luiz arrives and explains that Luiz is not her son, but the missing prince. Thus the gondoliers are free to return to Venice, Luiz is revealed as a fitting suitor for Casilda, and the opera ends with the gaiety that has been it's keynote throughout. T.B.P.