| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 1 act |
|---|---|
| Composition Year | 2018 |
| Genre Categories | Operas; Theatrical Works; For 3 voices, piano; |
| Work Title | The Cloak and Dagger Affair |
|---|---|
| Alternative. Title | |
| Composer | Lambert, Edward |
| I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. | IEL 52 |
| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 1 act |
| Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. | 2018 |
| Librettist | Composer after Federico García Lorca (1898-1936) |
| Language | English, Spanish |
| Average DurationAvg. Duration | 40 minutes |
| Composer Time PeriodComp. Period | Modern |
| Piece Style | Modern |
| Instrumentation | soprano, mezzo-soprano, bass, piano |
| External Links | About Piece |
| Extra Information | chamber opera with piano accompaniment |
The bookish Perlimplín has suddenly taken a wife. Does Belisa care for him despite her apparent infidelities? And who is the stranger in the red cloak seen wandering in the garden after their wedding? Belisa is besotted by him, and Perlimplín doesn’t seem to mind…
Characters
Don Perlimplín, an elderly, learned gentleman, bass
Belisa, his young wife, soprano
Marcolfo, Perlimplín’s manservant, mezzo-soprano
Chorus, sung by the cast
The middle-aged and bookish Don Perlimplín has been persuaded to marry a sensual young girl, Belisa. It is the day after their wedding, and Perlimplín’s manservant, Marcolfo, reveals that while he slept during the night, Belisa entertained five lovers. Perlimplín seems untroubled by this gossip. He is more concerned that Belisa has fallen for another man, a stranger in a red cloak who has been seen walking in the garden. She receives a love-letter from this youth and Marcolfo tells her the stranger will meet her at ten o’clock that evening. When Perlimplín sees him, he chases after him, while the besotted Belisa sings a serenade to her lover by way of encouragement. A moment later the stranger in the red cloak appears with a dagger through his heart. It appears he has been killed by Perlimplín; but the man in the red cloak is revealed to be Perlimplín himself, who dies as Belisa lovingly embraces him.
