Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
I Puritani
The Puritans
The Story
At Plymouth, a Puritan stronghold under siege by Royalist troops, Sir Richard Forth is about to marry Elvira, but laments that she loves a Stuart partisan rather than him. His friend Sir Bruno urges him to forget her and focus on leading his army. Elvira informs her uncle, Sir George, that she'd rather die than marry Forth, but he reassures her that he has convinced her father to let her marry her lover, Lord Arthur Talbot, despite his Royalist allegiance.
At the wedding, Arthur learns that Queen Henrietta, the widow of Charles I, is a prisoner in the castle and arranges for her to escape disguised as his bride. Richard informs the wedding party of the escape. Elvira, feeling deeply betrayed, descends into madness.
Arthur is condemned to death by Parliament, and Elvira remains fixed in her insanity. Seeing Richard, she mistakes him for Arthur. Witnessing this touching moment, Sir George convinces Richard to save Arthur. They finally agree that if Arthur is willing to return as a friend, his life will be spared.
Meanwhile, Arthur sneaks into Elvira's garden; his love has brought him back despite the risk to his life, and he assures her he loves only her. Soldiers arrive and arrest him. At this very moment, however, word arrives that the Parliamentary faction has won the civil war, and a pardon has been issued to all Royalists. The shock of the news brings Elvira out of her madness, and she and Arthur embrace in happiness.