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The Fairy King - bass Ada, a fairy - soprano Zemina, a fairy - soprano Farzana, a fairy - soprano Arindal, King of Tramond - tenor Lora, his sister - soprano Morald, her betrothed - baritone Gunther, a courtier from Tramond - tenor Gernot, Arindal's friend - bass Drolla, Lora's friend - soprano Harald, General of Groma the magician - bass A messenger - tenor Voice of Groma the Magician - bass Chorus of Fairies. Chorus of Morald's Fellowship. Chorus of people. Chorus of the Warriors. Chorus of the earth spirits. Chorus of brazen men. Chorus of Groma's unseen spirits Fairy Garden. Chorus of Fairies, including Farzana and Zemina. Ballet Chorus Up you soar, down you swing, happy fairies of delicate figure! Because unfading beauty is never withered by the wind blowing through these beautiful worlds, that breath gently on this realm. (Farzana and Zemina emerge) Farzana Why, Zemina, do I see you so sad? Zemina Should I, like you, rejoice in these festivals, because their beauty will soon be gone for good? Farzana Do you already think our Ada is lost, because in order to possess forever that swashbuckling mortal with whom she fell so deeply in love, she voluntarily renounced immortality? Zemina You know that she can still be mortal, as she indeed sprung from a fairy, but her father is a mortal. Farzana But you know also what conditions she and her husband had imposed on them by the Fairy king? Believe me, the mortal cannot satisfy them, And even Groma himself, the magician, his friend, shall yield to our power, and then Ada shall come back to us forever! Zemina Let us then strive together to save her! Zemina and Farzana You fairies all! You spirits all! Hear what we want! (The fairies and ghosts gather around them both) Help us in our work, to separate the mortal from our beloved fairy! Chorus We will help and support you! She will stay immortal! Farzana and Zemina Help us in our work, To separate the mortal from our beloved fairy! Chorus We will help you in your work, to separate the mortal from our beloved fairy! (All leave.) A transformation: Wild desert with rocks. Gernot enters from one side, Gunther and Morald from the other. Gemot Who do I see? Morald you, and Gunther, you? Morald What, Gernot? Gunther O come to my arms! (They hug) Gernot What the devil; tell me how it is that you come here? Gunther Tell us how you have fared. Morald Yes, Gernot, report, tell me quickly, where is thy Lord, where is Arindal? From our homeland I come, where I left all in sadness. The old king died there from grief for his missing son. Murold the Wild, our enemy, has devastated the kingdom, demanding the sister of Arindal, the beloved precious Lora! The only remedy has not changed: to seek Him, who is now king; to do so, Groma offered us help, as he, since ancient times is the protector of the tribe; he instructed us to find Arindal. But tell us, what happened to you? Gunther Tell, friend, tell us! Gernot Well, then, both of you listen to me! You know it was already eight years ago, that I disappeared with Arindal. We went out hunting, and already night had begun to fall, when a doe appeared, as beautiful as ever you saw. Arindal now hunted after it in his tireless quest; he had not caught up with it, when we came to a river, in which the doe vanished. Full of despair Arindal stood, until we heard a voice, such a delightful sweet sound that the king was irresistibly attracted to it. Suddenly he jumped into the water, and I, his faithful servant, followed. Gunther Unbelievable! Morald Go ahead, my friend! Gernot I almost died of fright, but when at last I composed myself, I was in a beautiful castle, and Arindal was stretched out at the feet of a beautiful woman. Looking down she said to him, "I love you, you love me, but before I am all yours, there is much you must survive. Above all, for eight years you must never ask me who I am!" Despite my great reluctance Arindal entered this alliance! Who married them, I do not know, but already they have two children as witness. Eight years flowed along, and if I have longed to go home, still I have lived in joy and glory, until yesterday when the amorous prince, driven by fierce desire, urged his wife to say who she was and where she came from. Suddenly we heard the sound of thunder; she was gone, and with it, the castle and her handmaidens. In this barren rocky area we have appeared, and Arindal in despair seeks his wife. Gunther O miracle of all miracles! Gernot But, tell me at last, does my dear Drolla yet live? Gunther She lives and often weeps for thee! Morald And soon you will see her again, with Arindal you must follow us! Gernot Oh look, there he is coming near! He looks like a man possessed! Morald So we must hurry away from here, and you, keep our presence a secret from him! (He leaves with Gernot and Gunther ...) For know: Groma taught us the way from here. (the last words behind the stage ...) (Arindal arrives) Arindal Where can I find you, where is my comfort? You have fled, and all my happiness with you. In every region, in every place I have directed my searching eye, in every valley, in every height my ardent longing sigh has penetrated! Woe is me, all my efforts are in vain! The wilderness rings with your name, the echo mocks my pain, just "Ada! Ada" it exclaims! And comes no answer "Arindal!" Your eye lights me no more, your breasts, oh, warm me not! No kiss quenches my thirsty lips! Your arm embraces me no more, only deathly chill I breathe! Alas! Was it all then a dream? Where are you, oh, where are you, where do you tarry far from me? Where do I direct my gaze, so that it reaches you? With you is my sun, with you alone is there life, but away from you is death and gruesome dreadful night. Oh! Let me find life, free me from the fear of death! Where are you, oh where do you tarry, where do you tarry far from me? Oh end my pain, and take me with you! (Gernot comes and sees Arindal) Gernot Now you stand here, quite pitiful! What good are all the complaints you have? Leave this place, and follow me home! Arindal Should I leave my wife? Silence! Gernot Is she your wife? Did she not let you down? She stayed with you as long as she enjoyed you, now, when she tires of you, she runs away! Arindal What silly talk! Gernot In a word, she whom you call your wife is a witch, an old evil sorceress! Arindal Be silent! Gernot Therefore you leave your kingdom and country, because you are in love with a doe? Arindal You slanderer! Gernot Yes, as you can see now, that was just lies and deceit! Arindal O such mockery of this beauty! Gernot Oh what beauty! Next time I see you you'll have stately antlers! Arindal You provoke my wrath! Gernot I can go hunting for stag no longer, for who would stand for it if I slew the king? Arindal Stop, you rogue! The rudeness of your jokes can never relieve my torment! Gernot Have you heard of Dilnovaz? Arindal What does she have to do with it? Gernot Listen, I want to tell the story! (Arindal falls exhausted on a boulder) (Romance) Once there was a well known wicked witch called Lady Dilnovaz, who was as ugly and as old, as anyone has ever known! But she wore a ring on her finger, which made her young and beautiful, more beautiful than anyone has ever seen. A king she so completely beguiled, that he made her the queen, he took her for a wife! He was so blind in his foolishness, that he neither heard nor saw, and that he never perceived, what was happening around him. Once he found her in another's arm, in a wicked passion; he drew his sword quickly and slashed at her with rage! But he struck only her little finger, on which she wore the ring; then he soon saw in his beloved an old and ugly thing. (Gunther enters in the form of an old, venerable priest, his song accompanied by solemn gait and voice.) Gunther Arindal! Arindal Oh, venerable figure! Tell me who you are, and what you desire? Gernot O what a roguish prank! Who may recognize the mischief-maker? Gunther I am called the holy priest and love drives me to you! Arindal I am amazed! Speak, holy one! Gernot (to himself) I myself would take him for holy! Gunther O king, you are in a bad way, beset by an evil woman! I came here to warn you, to save you from her evil bonds: (with great pathos) Who indulges himself in this, forever loses God and His Kingdom! Arindal Dreadful! What must I do! Gernot (to himself) What nice words this guy speaks! Gunther You see the wild animals who take refuge in these crevices! They were human once, but now they are condemned by this woman. If you do not follow me from here at once, you will be threatened by the same fate! Gernot You know, you know! The antlers! Arindal Oh heavens, can it be possible, that I was deceived by her? Gernot (to himself) Haha! This is laughable, such mad deception! Gunther If you will follow me now, you shall be saved! If you delay any longer, you must perish. Arindal So should I run away from her, whom I loved so passionately. (Arindal is drawn away by Gunther, who amid sudden thunder and lightning is transformed again into his own form.) What do I see? Gunther, you? Gernot What the devil! Gunther Alas! What has happened to me? Gernot Now all the fun is over! Arindal What unheard of outrage, to cheat me so miserably! Oh thanks, beloved Ada, you surely love me still! I see the illusion destroyed by the power of your love! Gernot Now the well-intentioned ruse is undone! He has not changed his mind and surely he will not follow us. (Twilight is breaking: Morald appears in the form of Arindal's deceased father.) Morald Arindal! Arindal God, what do I behold! My father there! What new deception is taking place? Gunther and Gernot How deceptive it is, the shape! Arindal Tell me, are you not my father? Morald Your father I am no more, I'm just your father's spirit! I died of grief for you, because I thought you were lost! Arindal Here reigns deception no more! O God, my father is here! Gunther and Gernot Truly a horror touches me, he looks so similar to his father! Morald As a spirit I come to exhort you, because your kingdom is in dire need! The wild king Murold fell upon our realm after my death, all around it is destroyed, only one city remains standing; your sister now with her last strength protects it; meanwhile in amorous delusions you indulge your sluggish idleness! Arindal Oh, what a terrible fate! Your accusation, Father, hits me hard! Gunther and Gernot How it affects him! Go on! Go on! Morald For that reason you must leave this place and follow me to your kingdom! Your country misses your strength and your sister calls to you! Arindal O heaven, can it be so? Fate hits me so hard! Morald If you follow me at once, you can rescue your kingdom If you delay any longer, everything must perish! Arindal So I must leave her, the strictest duty is calling me! Gunther and Gernot This will soften him, he certainly will follow us now. (As Arindal is about to follow Morald, suddenly amid thunder and lightning he transforms back into his own form.) Arindal How? Morald? Deceit once again? Gunther and Gernot Alas! He too is unsuccessful! Now all the fun is over! Arindal O, Morald, dear friend, you also mock me with such deception? Morald O Sir, forgive me! Our best ruse is now frustrated by a strange power. Fret not, and let me speak now as one friend to another! Arindal So it is true, my father died? Morald From bitter grief over you. Arindal O cruel fate! Woe is me! Morald What I in that false shape reported to you of your homeland, I now repeat to you as the terrible truth! In ruins lies your beautiful kingdom! Arindal Enough, stop! I'll follow you! Ah, what alone held me back, has now indeed vanished forever! Stand aside and rest, tomorrow I will follow you from here! Morald and Gernot Oh what joy, he agrees! Arindal Duty calls me away from here! Morald and Gernot He has changed his rigid mind! Arindal I hesitate no longer! I will hesitate nevermore! O, who comprehends my pain, that I will see my wife no more! Gunther Off to my homeland, to see our pretty girls. Morald Off to my homeland, to see my much-loved Lora! Gernot Off to my homeland, to see my faithful Drolla! Morald and Gernot Oh what joy, he agrees to it, he has changed his rigid mind! (All exit. The night has broken. Arindal is left alone.) Arindal (Alone) Now shall I forever be parted from you, and you, beloved wife do not show yourself? Not a kiss, not a single tear do you have for your departing lover! O Cruel One, farewell, farewell forever, I go to fight for my country, and my only hope is death! (As he turns to leave, he suddenly feels faint and gradually sinks down on a stone.) But what seizes my limbs? I want to leave, but my foot refuses! My eye closes! Is this slumber approaching? I feel it! Farewell, my dear, so your husband leaves! Ada! (He falls asleep.) The scene turns into a lovely fairy garden. In the background, a gleaming palace. During the ritornello Ada steps out from the palace in the richest Fairy jewelry. Ada How can I complain, what else is so sublime, so beautiful. But for me immortality is a sad, hard lot! Because him alone I love, I would give so much to him! But to win him over completely, how is it so hard, so hard! For me remains now nothing but lament and I weep for my fate! I'm going to lose him, in order to be mortal (Arindal gradually awakens.) Arindal Where am I? In what blessed land has my beautiful dream transported me! And there, ha, am I not dreaming, is it my wife? Ada Do you recognize me? Beloved, ingrate! You want to desert me? Arindal Ada, do I see you again? Excess of bliss! Mine is the greatest happiness, to have you all over again, all my heavy, bitter sorrow is forgotten in your arms! Ada O cool your ardor, calm your rapture! It is to new, bitter agony that I appear to you now! Arindal O why torment, o why torture? You are mine forever, and all my joy is only with you! Ada Unfortunate man! Just a short time, then I will be forever separated from Arindal! Arindal I'll never leave you again and never forsake you! Ada (with fear) Only one single day, and you will forsake me! Ada and Arindal Still I hold you in my arms, but fate tears you from me. Destruction will threaten us both, if the power of our love does not triumph! (Gunther, Morald, Gernot and the Chorus of their companions enter.) Morald Away, Arindal, come with us now! What do I see? God, where are we? Gunther And there, that beautiful woman! Gernot I understand now! His wife, the beautiful witch, she's back, now it is over, he surely will not follow us! Chorus Truly, what a divinely beautiful woman! Morald Such enchanting gentleness I never saw! Chorus Have I ever seen such great charm? Morald I can well understand the King! Arindal Woe is me, I've already promised, to go with them to my homeland! Morald and Gernot How her beauty blinds me, with the sweet glow of her cheeks! Gernot Oh, none of that is real, and her cheeks are painted! Arindal Woe is me, I've already promised, to go with them to my homeland! How shall I keep my promise! How can I leave, what should I do? Morald and Gernot I will try to remind the king that he should follow us from here. Guiding truth, what a divinely beautiful woman! Have I ever seen such great charm? Such enchanting gentleness I never saw, I can well understand the King!! Ada Woe is me! Already the beginning of my suffering approaches! They come to proclaim my father's death to me! (A festive train of fairies from Ada's kingdom appears, and before them, Farzana and Zemina.) Farzana Your father has shared the fate of mortals. Zemina From the remote regions of your kingdom all the people are streaming to greet you as queen! Chorus Hail to our Queen! Hail to you, beautiful Ada! Greetings to our ruler from your people's flock! From afar hear the cheers of our joyful homage. Hail to our Queen! Hail to you, beautiful Ada! Ada Oh that I had never heard these rejoicing sounds! I feel only a new fetter to my miserable fate! Zemina and Farzana This ties her with new bands to immortality, because if she really wants to be mortal, she loses her kingdom. Gunther I've never seen anything like what is happening! Morald What should I think about all this, I can hardly comprehend it. Gernot It's just all a great fuss, deception and hypocrisy! Arindal Tell me, my wife, what is behind all this? Ada You hear me called Queen, so that you know, but do not ask! Because what seems joyful to you, to me is bitter pain! I must now go away from you again, and you follow your friends to your country ... for now, if not for ever! Oh, if I could but confide all in you! But my fate forbids it. Arindal Speak! When will I see you again? Ada Tomorrow! A bitter goodbye! Arindal Already tomorrow, tomorrow! What good fortune! Ada It is to your misfortune that you see me! Zemina (aside to Farzana) You know, he must now swear on no account to curse her! Farzana (aside) But as he can never keep this promise, so the false oath must destroy him! Ada Hear, then, what I preach to you, whatever you may see tomorrow what ever terrors threaten you, what ever disaster you may meet, O Arindal, let you never be misled so far as to curse me, your wife! Arindal What do I hear, you mock me! Ada Be firm then and swear to me, (quickly) ah, don't swear! Arindal I swear it to you! Zemina and Farzana Did you hear? He swore! Morald and Gernot He swore it! Ada (turns away in horror) Woe is me, he swore it! Morald and Gernot A terrifying secret is hidden in this oath! She who prevailed upon him, now stands distressed! Zemina and Farzana He really swore it and cannot go back; the oath will bring him destruction and separate him from Ada. Arindal What I have sworn, also proves me faithful! As passionately as I love her, so sacred remains my oath. Ada Oh, that he had never sworn the harsh oath of terror! He will never be able to keep it and will perish because of it! Chorus How our jubilation joyfully rang out when our princess was greeted! It sounds through all space the song of praise to our Queen! Hail, beautiful Ada! Hail to our Queen! Morald and Gernot Away, come with us to your country, return home to your kingdom, if you stay here any longer, land and sister must perish! Away, King, follow us back to your home! Arindal So I release you from my arms until the blissful reunion, I swear to remain true and will keep my promise if I should not die! Farewell, my spouse, I remain forever faithful! Zemina and Farzana So tear yourself from his arms, the people want to see you crowned! Let nothing hold you back any longer, go to meet the homage! Away, come! Away, Ada, follow us back to the joyous celebrations! Ada So I release you from my arms, we will soon meet again; O may you keep your oath, otherwise you must perish with me. Farewell, my Arindal, and stay forever true! (Ada is pulled away in a chariot). The vestibule of the palace in the capital of Arindal's Kingdom. Chorus of the warriors and the people Chorus Woe to us, we are beaten and have flown from the enemy! Already he is raging outside the walls and threatening us with ruin! To you above, O mighty God, we sound our cry of deep distress! Hear us and help us! The fear of death urges us, we call for help in vain! Doom awaits us and threatens torturous death! (Lora appears in armor.) Lora What strikes you so hard with fear of death, that you fill the air with such cries? Chorus We are defeated once more, we are doomed! Lora Faint of heart! Why despair so soon? Who has been surrounded with more misfortune than myself, who is but a weak woman? My father died, my brother is far away, and his dear friend missing! Have you forgotten Groma's prophecy, that this empire will never be lost, once Arindal has returned? Chorus But who can say to us, that he will ever return? Lora Did I not send dear Morald himself to seek him and to bring him back? Chorus Unfortunate woman! Arindal has been gone so long! Lora What are you saying! Woe to me if it were possible! You awaken in my heart a dark suspicion: they will never return to me Oh! Hope! must you dwindle, you who have been my only consolation, you who, in my painful suffering, embraced me with your comforting arm! To see my brother soon, was for me a happy hope, to embrace my friend soon, was for me supreme bliss! And if neither returns, what a painful fate! So I, completely abandoned, must perish alone! (A messenger enters.) Messenger Hail all! I bring good news: Morald returns to us with Arindal! Chorus What does he say? God, can it be possible? Lora I scarcely trust my ear! Where did you see them? Messenger I went with them to seek the king, we found him and persuaded him to return! Lora They return to me! How can I contain my great delight! How can I contain my blazing bliss! I feel my bosom swell, and joy shakes my burning heart! My dear brother, I will see, whose downfall I was lamenting! Beloved Friend, you return again, and rush into the arms of your faithful one! Chorus What a great joy to us again, the dear one has returned to us, hope will raise us once again! Every heart beats in full delight! (Lora rushes off and comes back with Arindal and Morold.) O king, be greeted by your faithful people! The jubilation of your return eases their pain! Arindal O restrain these jubilant sounds, they impress on me a warning of terror, For alas! The rich royal mantle is to me my father's funeral shroud! Morald O Lora, look, what I promised I held to in spite of dangers: your dear brother I have brought back again, are you mindful of my sweet reward? Lora O, what reward shall I give you for this supreme delight! My friend and my brother, I have back: All suffering is past! Lora and Morald I see fate countered by joy and feel newly prepared for battle; for rescue approaches the Fatherland and love beckons in your arms! All suffering has fled and is replaced by joy! Let us then march to the last battle, which will lead us to happiness! Arindal I fear that fate is turning against me and feel almost discouraged; so much misery in the homeland and new torments await me. How do I bear all these sorrows, how can I be strong for battle! Already the present oppresses me, and greater horrors await! (All leave. Gernot and Gunther come.) Gernot How is it, Gunther, that you can still stand on your own feet? Gunther O what a bad night it was! I have never dreamed of such abominations! Gernot But this morning! Was it not as if the bloody sun wanted to scorch everything? The earth shook under my feet, the lightning blinded my vision, the thunder my hearing! Gunther The King himself, how he was shaken! Gernot And what do I find here now? Everywhere full of enemies, barely a foot's width of land belongs to us! Gunther O evil signs, evil times! Gernot To me it is as if after a long bout of drink, the misery shooting through all my limbs! If only I could find my Drolla! Tell me: is she still young? Gunther That's a stupid question; since last you were with us, she is eight years older, then ... she was a child! Gernot I mean, pretty? Gunther Certainly! I was often tempted. Gernot How? Gunther Now, to comfort her! Gernot You dared do that! Did she remain faithful to me? Gunther I believe so; ask her yourself, she is coming here, I'll leave you two alone! (Exits. Drolla enters). Drolla and Gernot What? Do I see right, is this not Gernot? (Drolla?) It's you! Oh what joy! Ah, after such a long time we finally see each other again! To press you to my heart is a complete delight! O tell me, tell me, how have you fared? O tell! O tell! Gernot Things go well with me! I was with my Lord for so long with a beautiful queen. In her castle, the choice among all the pretty girls was really difficult. They were all made to be kissed, one blonde, the other brown, with black and with blue eyes! Drolla Certainly, certainly, quite charming! Gernot And since I am also a handsome fellow, they all fell in love with me, and I, well, and I.. Drolla aside Now truly his words falter! O wait, you wicked rogue! To say this to my face, that's truly outrageous! Gernot aside Now I will learn from her, whether she really still loves me. Her jealousy will tell me, if she believes what I have said! Drolla So let me also tell you about myself, and how I fared for this long time! At court I've been here so long as Lora's chief servant. To court her a large number of the finest knights moved here, they were all made to be kissed, one blonde, the other brown, with black and with blue eyes Gernot I'll turn black and blue myself! Drolla And since I'm not ugly, they all fell in love with me, and I, well, and I... Gernot aside Now truly her words falter! O wait, you wicked wench! To say this to my face, that's truly outrageous! Drolla aside He can barely control himself for anger! So he should be with his flighty spirit! May he quietly despair from jealousy, if he believes what he heard from me! Drolla and Gernot Depart from me, you liar! I want to see you no more! So you kept the faith, that you so often swore to me? You fall in love with strange men (girls), while I am far away, truly I call that cheating, to do this to your beloved! (They run away to different sides, but remain at the extreme ends, and look shyly at one another from a distance.) Gernot Drolla! Drolla Gernot? Gernot Are you not yet gone? Drolla Are you still there? Gernot I think, you are crying? Drolla What do you care, faithless man! Gernot I faithless? Oh indeed, I'm not! Drolla Did you not tell me so yourself? Gernot Lies, oh, I lied! No one has fallen in love with me, and I have yearned only for you, I wanted to discover how things stood with you? Drolla And I truly also have lied No one has fallen in love with me, nor I with anyone. I have remained faithful to you! To punish you, I lied to you before. Gernot What do I hear? Let us embrace at once! (Embrace) Forgiveness! Drolla and Gernot So we are united, never more to be separated, no mistrust, no suspicion will ever be able to separate us You love me, what joy, oh what bliss! Fabrications and lies were what divided us! (Embrace and kiss.) They will separate us never more, so to be eternally happy! (They go out. Ada, Farzana and Zemina appear.) Ada O cruel ones, have you no mercy to drive me coldly to these horrible deeds? Farzana Forgive us, we are not to blame for the fate that you have forged with your own will. Ada But since you know what painful fate awaits me, if I am defeated, do you rejoice so in my pain? Zemina O do not believe it, it beings me to tears! But listen: you can easily withdraw from all this still, as soon as you renounce the mortal! Farzana There is still time and the choice is clear: here, long death, and there, eternal life! Zemina and Farzana Remember, your choice becomes your fate! (They disappear. Ada alone) Ada Woe is me, the terrible hour is close, when all my happiness and all my misery will be revealed! O why do you wake in my soul doubts about that bitter choice! Unhappy, where shall I turn? My downfall seems so sure, and oh, how uncertain my victory! I myself pile up the horrors, the torments that I lead him to, I awaken in him doubts, that no mortal can bear! From all sides, misfortune storms, his last star, my love, falls. The night confuses his mind, he takes revenge and curses his wife! Woe is me! And this curse separates me from him, and ages come between us! Despair, madness, then death is his lot, and mine, terrible: for one hundred years turned into stone! I could avoid all this, am I not free to do so? Eternal beauty, immortal, in bloom unfading? The fairy world pays homage to me, I am their splendor and their treasure! The everlasting kingdom honors me, its high queen! I could avoid all this, and bloom forever in the magnificence of the fairies! Deceived, unhappy woman! What is immortality? A boundless, eternal death! Yet every day with him is a new, eternal life! So be it! The choice is made, for that life I will sacrifice everything! My Arindal! Love will also inspire him and bestow courage in battle, boldly he will defeat the doubts and free me from my bonds! The false malice will be destroyed, which aims to separate him from me! All your efforts will be in vain, you who want to kill my love! Yet should he be defeated, and I be shut up in the rock, (with great sadness) so should my love make the stone itself cry tears of longing! And these tears would my husband feel, that sigh would reach to him, the lament would shake him, not let him rest, drive him here! Love will also inspire him and bestow courage in battle, boldly he will defeat the doubts and free me from my bonds! (Exits) The stage remains empty for a while. The chorus of the people and the warriors appear from different sides. Lora, Drolla, Arindal, Gunther, Morald and Gernot enter. All Do you hear the tempest roar, the raging outside the walls? It is the hordes of the enemy awakening to new rage! Arindal How my heart is filled with fear! Lora Up then, my friends, move out! Arindal Oh, how can I endure all this misery! Lora Free us from this misery! Drolla So march out gladly to the struggle for freedom! Chorus So we march out to the final battle of death! Arindal To fight, oh, I can not! Morald You warriors, come, I will lead you! (Exits with the warriors) Lora Brother, how is it that you can withdraw from the holy battle? Arindal O Lora, my soul is sick, and sickly lies my courage! Drolla and Gernot Do you see the king's gloomy gaze, as he struggles in vain to remain calm? Arindal How should I endure this further torment, if mine is already unbearable? Lora How should I interpret his mood, which weighs so heavily on him! (As Arindal turns away, he confronts Ada.) Ada Woe to you, if this is the hardest thing you will face! Arindal Oh heavens, my wife! All What, is this his wife? (Ada gives a sign; her two children appear and rush into Arinda's arms.) Ada Now, Arindal, remember your oath! Lora, Drolla, Gunther, Chorus Oh, see the sweet little ones, how lovely to behold! Gernot These are the pretty things, which she gave to him! Arindal Oh, I see my children again, what a joyous unexpected good fortune! I will never be robbed of them, and no cunning will snatch them from me! All Behold, O see the lovely little ones, etc. Ada O that you had never seen them! The sight will lead you to grief! (On her nod, a fiery abyss opens.) Gunther and Gernot What the devil do I see there? Chorus Horror! What is happening? Arindal Ha, what are you about? Ada Give me back my children! Arindal Ha, never! What would you do? Ada Let me be, as they are not yet yours! (She wrests the children from him) Arindal Terrible! Are they not mine? Ada The fiery abyss will receive them! Lora, Drolla, Gunther, Chorus Ha, what does she dare! Attack and hold them back! Ada Back from me, bold man! Arindal O woman, I'll not let you do this! Get away! (She throws the children into the abyss; they disappear immediately.) All Oh God, what have we seen? Was it deception, was it the truth? Horrible woman, what have you done? Can anyone call you a mother? Arindal How powerfully my heart is perturbed with a mixture of reproach and suspicion! Ada How powerfully his heart is perturbed! Heavens protect him from suspicion! (Refugees from the Chorus of the Warriors enter.) Chorus Flee, we are defeated! All What new evil rushes upon us and threatens us with destruction! Ada This disaster is worse for me than for him! It ordains my doom! Arindal Here is discord, outside is destruction, what new evil! Oh, Ada, have you no comfort for me in these grievous sorrows? Ada I did not come for your consolation, for your torment have I appeared! Arindal She coldly rejects me. How could she comfort her husband, when she has murdered her children? Lora My last hope is sinking! The faithful Harald has failed to appear with the help which he promised to procure from the neighboring shores! O, help, now or never! Chorus of the people The storm passes even closer, do you hear the awful noise? New refugees appear Chorus of the warriors Lost, alas, lost, nothing can save us now! Lora You cowards, why do you flee, does not the brave Morald lead you? Chorus of the warriors He has vanished from us, trapped or dead! Lora (with a cry) Dead! All Everything is falling to ruin, The bravest have fallen! Ada He still does not suspect that I am to blame for all his misery! Chorus Behold, here comes Harald, with the aid promised us! Arindal The last ray of hope! Ada It will be my downfall! Lora Speak, where are the warriors, that you bring to save us? Harald Woe to you, I bring nothing! My work is destroyed! All What does he say? No help, only new destruction? Harald The best warriors I had recruited; we were barely out of the city, when appeared to us an army before us, at its head an armed woman. They attacked us with unprecedented might, and we all were dispersed in a short time. Then the woman said, "Go home to Arindal, tell him I am Ada, the Queen!" Ada (for herself) Oh, must I yet endure this! Arindal What do you say? Is it this woman, who gave you the order? Harald My king, yes, it is! All Dreadful! His wife is in league with the enemy! Arindal Ha, now I see the awful truth! I was betrayed in everything! Ha, shameful woman, now you are exposed, and the goal of your wicked malice! You are one of those sorceresses, who ensnares us with love to our ruin! You held me firmly in vile fetters, seducing me with evil deception! Ada My Arindal! Arindal To cruelly torment me, you sent my children to a fiery death, shattered my kingdom with monstrous evil, I myself am abandoned to despair! Ada Stop it! Arindal Why do I protect you anymore; to punish you, you gave me the power! Infamous woman, be then cursed! Ada Arindal, stop! Ah! (Horrible scream) Perjurer, what have you done! (Zemina and Farzana appear.) Zemina und Farzana Ada, the bonds are dissolved; you remain immortal, as before! All Oh God, what do we hear, what does it mean? Ada (with raging pain) Monstrous! Is this how you keep your oath? With such courage do you prove your faithfulness? Lost, oh, lost! Alas, unhappy you have made your wife forever! Know therefore how great the outrage is! From a mortal and a fairy did I spring, and so was immortal like my mother. Since I saw you, it was to you, unfaithful one, that I turned all my burning love! It was so great that in order to be yours, I voluntarily renounced immortality! The fairy king was angry with me over this, and since he could not oppose it, he sought to discourage me; he set this condition: for eight years to conceal from you who I was, and then on the last day to heap upon you so much agony and terror, as might convince you to curse me! Only if your heart were steadfast in love would I be rewarded the fate of mortality. If not, I should remain immortal and then atone for my desires by being for one hundred years transformed into stone! Well, now you know my fate! Arindal O God, how it roars in my brain! Tell me, are you not responsible for the ruin of my kingdom? Ada It will be over faster than it started! Arindal Well, are those warriors slain, who were sent to my aid? Ada I did it all! Those were your enemy's warriors, with whom Harald wanted to betray you. (Harald is seized and taken away.) Arindal And Morald, he did not fall, it was only an illusion? Ada By my power, he has now defeated the enemy! Arindal What more can I ask? Already the madness touches me! But my children's murder condemns you! (At Ada's gesture their two children rush into Arindal's arms.) Ada Pure since their birth, take them, the world's most beautiful destiny gladdens them; I alone suffer boundless misery! Arindal (Falls at Ada's feet) Now, in despair, I hear you! Chorus of the warriors (Behind the stage) Triumph! We are free, the enemy is slain! (Morald enters with the warriors.) Morald I bring joy and victory, the enemy is destroyed! All What do I hear? We are free! Chorus, Drolla, Gunther, Gernot Ring out, sounds of exultation to the sky high above, now the chants of victory alone resound! Lora and Morald I press you victorious to my joyful breast! Such unspeakable joy (to be freed by you) (to free you, fairest!) Zemina and Farzana So she is saved, and returned to us. After suffering exile she will be immortal! Ada Depart from me, traitor, I thrust you from me! Ere the day ends I will be surrounded by stone! (Arindal writhes at Ada's feet.) Arindal Oh Ada, have mercy, do not send me away from you! Despair must take me, madness must be my end! (The stage darkens Ada sinks with Zemina and Farzana amid thunder and lightning. Then the curtain falls quickly.) Festive Hall. Morald and Lora on the throne, Drolla, Gernot and Gunther next to them. Chorus of men and maidens, festively dressed. Victory dance. Chorus Hail to the fair peace in the gently shining heavens! Hail to the great victory, which gave us peace! To you that led us to victory, be greeted now as our King! To you that comforted us in our suffering, be greeted now as Queen! Hail to you, victorious Morald! Hail to you, virtuous Lora! Hail to you! Morald (Descends from the throne) Enough; end this festive celebration! My heart beats not with joy, but with sadness! Your joyful greeting of the king does not belong to me! Since conferring his title on me, he has fallen into a most unfortunate state. The dread night of madness has enwrapped him, and embraces his suffering soul. Though his will made me king, yet I remain ruler only so long as the gloomy Arindal succumbs to madness! Lora Oh, my brother! What deplorable fortune! Now, while joy swells each bosom, must I weep for your terrible fate! Chorus We respect your pain! Our celebration will cease! Lora and Morald Almighty God, to you in heaven I send my fervent entreaties! Let the mind of my (brother) (Friend) (King) avoid the terrifying power of madness! May a beam from your radiance enlighten the darkness of his soul! (All leave) Arindal (Madly, behind the stage) Hello! Let all the dogs out! There, there! The deer! Look! Here! (Arindal enters) You hunters, ever here! You, huntsman, wander ahead! Hurrah, sound the horn! Oh look, the beast is already tired! Grab it! I'll shoot the arrow! See how it flies! I aimed well! Haha! That struck the heart! Oh look, the animal can cry! A tear shines in its eye! Oh, how crushed it looks to me How beautiful she is! Horrors! Ha, it's not an animal, look! It is my wife! (Collapses) I see the heavens open, the brilliant doors burst apart! O what fragrance, o what splendor! Am I a God, to feel this? Elated, my spirits are lifted! Ha, how the ground sinks away! A hand is offered to me, lovingly it leads me up, I breathe the gentle air of gods! So what? I'm still human! You are cursed! Haha! It's done! Now I'm dust once more! (Feeling faint) Lie down to rest, dust, the earth gladly holds you! (He sinks down gradually on the steps of the throne) Ha, how it darkens around you! It is the tender night. O frightening, sweet air, do you imprison my soul? I lay in your arms, so gentle was my rest, I can not embrace you, you're so far away, so far! Yet you draw near to me, yes, yes, I see you! Why the deep grief in your tearful glance? (He falls asleep. As if from a great distance one hears Ada's voice, then, from nearer, Groma's.) Ada's Voice My husband Arindal, what have you done to me? A cold stone encloses my passionate love. Only my tears soften the embrace of this harsh prison but through all the barriers my love still reaches to you, and if you hear my lament, hurry forth unto me! Groma's Voice (From a different side behind the stage) Get up, Arindal what are you waiting for? Look, that shield and that sword can give you victory, yet that lyre can bring you greater fortune. If you are filled with courage and love, then you shall reach your highest goal! Farzana So would our Ada be saved and her immortality returned! Well, we must complete this final deed, and never think of hesitating: though it means the mortal's certain death! Zemina Truly, I have compassion for Arindal's skill; already he makes amends for his perjury with the terror of madness. Farzana O not just his perjury, his arrogance ordains his death! Shall an audacious mortal with impunity rob us of the pride of the fairy realm? Let us lead him on the path to Ada, and encourage him to free her. Zemina What will you do? Accompany him on the road, where he can really save her? Farzana What do you fear, fool? Because he could not win as a man, how can he prove himself where fairy power alone can win? In battle, he will certainly lose! Zemina and Farzana Get up! Awake, Arindal! Arindal Who is calling me? Ha, where did my wild delusion carry me? I heard my wife call! Oh God, how her voice brightened the gloomy night into day! Zemina and Farzana Well, Arindal, do you recognize us? Arindal I see you again, dear fairies, as you were to my wife. Alas, my wife, where is she? Zemina and Farzana Do you have the courage to free her? Arindal What do I hear? Can I succeed in freeing her by my courage? Farzana Why do you boast of your courage? Is she not a victim of your cowardice? Arindal O, turn your scorn from me! Tell me, can she still be freed? Zemina Trapped in the cold stone she despairs of her rescue. Arindal You torture me! I have courage! Who guides me to her then? Zemina and Farzana Well, we will take you to her! Arindal Oh God, I take the chance, for her! (he takes the shield and lyre) Oh to liberate my wife, it fills me with embers of joy! O, lead me to her, for her I sacrifice all my life's blood! Zemina and Farzana Ha, this rash expression of joy will ordain him to certain death. We are glad to lead him to her, because we will enjoy his downfall! The scene transforms. Terrible chasm of the underworld kingdom. Earth spirits and hideous larvae roam this bustling place. Chorus of Spirits You spirits, up, guard loyally the dark terrible gate, which encircles the chasm! Defend the way from the uninitiated! It leads to the highest sanctuary! Up, you spirits! Guard faithfully! Arindal Where are you leading me? Does my wife languish here? Chorus Who comes there? Farzana A mortal desires of you to enter! Chorus Woe to him! Zemina Well, Arindal! Fight these spirits! Arindal O, these monsters have superior numbers! Farzana Coward, are you afraid? Arindal Love triumphs! (he begins to fight the earth spirits and is soon forced to give way) Woe is me, I am already defeated! Groma's Voice The shield! (Arindal holds the shield, the spirits disappear) Zemina and Farzana Terrible, ha, he has won! Through a strange power, he defeated them, but he will never again win! Arindal Oh what joy, victory is mine! Thanks, Groma, to your high power! (On a sign from the two fairies, Arindal follows them) Gunther and Gernot Hail Arindal and take heart, you progress to victory! The stage is transformed into a different part of the underground kingdom. Chorus of brazen men: solidly lined up together. Chorus of the brazen men Close tightly together, and stay strong, we defend the entrance to the highest sanctuary! Chorus What is the stranger doing here? Zemina He defies your strength and challenges you to fight! Chorus Woe to him! Arindal I am not frightened by your bronze shield, my power will destroy you! (He begins the fight by holding up the shield, and is soon forced to yield) Woe is me, the shield loses its strength! Groma The sword! (Arindal fights with the sword. The bronze men disappear.) Zemina and Farzana Ha, woe to us, the victory is his! Instead of the insolent mortal's destruction, our object is his greatest fortune! Chorus of Groma's invisible spirits (invisible) Heil, Arindal, and take courage, you progress to victory! Farzana But now his power weakens! Arindal Tell me! Where can I find my wife? Farzana So be it! Now you shall free her! (On their sign a rock opens: in a small, magically illuminated grotto appears a stone the size of a person.) Zemina Look, Arindal your wife languishes there! Arindal Almighty god, how can I bear this sight? What do I call this feeling that makes me tremble? Is it bliss that I am near her? Is it horror that I behold her like this? Ah, what sadness fills my poor heart. O Ada! How do I destroy the curse? Zemina Is it fitting to cry here? You came here to free her! Arindal O tell me, how can I finish this? Farzana Disenchant this stone, and she is free! Arindal Woe is me! Can mortal power ever accomplish this? Farzana Try it, but know what threatens you! With bold presumptuous force you have penetrated far into the Fairies' sanctuary, and if you can not now entirely complete your work, you will atone for your wanton desire with eternal transformation into stone! Arindal Ha, terrible! This is my lot! Alas, it overcomes my courage and my desire is paralyzed. I cannot finish my task and long suffering is her fate! Farzana and Zemina Ha, finally courage is defeated and his desire is paralyzed. He has not completed his task, so eternal death is his lot. Chorus of Groma's invisible spirits (invisible) Courage Arindal, and be strong, you can free your wife yet! Groma's Voice Seize the lyre! Arindal Oh God, what do I hear? Yes, I have divine power! I am well aware of the sweet sounds of divine power which the mortal possesses! You, passionate love, longing and desire charm this stone with your song! Zemina and Farzana Alas, this is Groma's work! Arindal (plays the lyre) O you, the rapture of my heart, sweetly wrapped in love! And you, longing, hotly craved with your blissful sweet pain! You I call on, from my heart, from my soul you soar! May all feeling flow together in sweet music of magic power, and entreat the cold stone: Give me back my wife! (The stone transforms gradually into Ada, who falls delighted into Arindal's arms.) Ada Now no power can rob you of me! Farzana and Zemina turn away horrified. The scene changes to a wonderful fairy palace, surrounded by clouds. On a throne sits the fairy king, around him the chorus of fairies and spirits. Fairy King You, mortal, invaded our kingdom, and the infinite power of love gave you that high power that only to immortals is bestowed! Know therefore: by your actions as a man Ada remains now immortal, as she was, but as she was wrested from us by divine power, you are more than a man: be immortal, like her! Chorus Greetings, Arindal in the high fairy kingdom, your immortality is bestowed by your strength! Ada Renounce your earthly kingdom, rule my fairyland now! Arindal Yet I feel mortal enough myself, and I can not believe it for joy! Zemina and Farzana Delight returns again, as both have now won! Arindal (Morald, Lora, Drolla, Gernot and Günter enter) I'll give you two now my earthly country, a higher realm is blessedly bestowed on me! Be happy always, because I'll protect you! (Ada leads him to the throne.) Chorus He has gained a high destiny, he has shaken off the dust of the earth! Therefore let us sing in eternity, how much he is blessed by love! This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA. |
| libretto by John McKenna, Feb. 2013 |