Current Season
Martha

Composer: Fredrich von Flotow
Libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese
First Performance: November 25, 1847, at Theater an der Wien, Vienna

For more information on Flotow's Martha

Synopsis:

ACT ONE

Lady Harriet Durham, a maid-of-honor to Queen Anne, is so tired of Court life, and so sick of her many insipid admirers, she retires to the country. But she becomes bored so she decides to attend the fair at Richmond where girls hire themselves out as servants. For a laugh, she and her confidante Nancy masquerade as maidservants. Her foppish cousin, Sir Tristan another admirer whom she terms a bore, accompanies them. Harriet manages to lose her escort, and then, she and Nancy stand in the line of girls waiting to be hired. Two young farmers, Lionel and Plunkett, are looking for a couple of girls to do their housework and being struck by the beauty and charm of the two masqueraders, proceed to hire them. Lady Harriet has given her name as Martha. The girls are soon dismayed to find they are legally bound to their new masters for a year. Sir Tristan is unable to retrieve them from their fate.

ACT TWO

Quickly both farmers fall for their new maidservants — Lionel for Harriet and Plunkett for Nancy. Harriet feels that Lionel is of higher station than he appears. He is an orphan who was left with Plunkett's parents in early childhood. The new maids are totally inept at their tasks, which infuriates Plunkett. Finally, the new maids are told to go to bed, but escape through the window, with the aid of Sir Tristan.

ACT THREE

Plunkett sings a rousing drinking song in the local tavern as the villagers await the Queen’s hunting party. But Lionel's grief is so great that he falls into a melancholy state and wanders alone through the forest. He meets a royal hunting party and recognizes Lady Harriet. He declares his love for her, but she rebuffs him. Lionel reminds her of her contract to serve him for a year. She tells the party the young man is mad, and Sir Tristan supports her declaration. Orders are given to imprison the young man. Lionel has a ring his father gave him, saying if he was ever in trouble he was to send the ring to the Queen. He begs his friend Plunkett to take it to the court.

The ring saves Lionel. The Queen recognizes it as that of a banished nobleman, whose innocence has since been proved. Lady Harriet is now willing to accept his courtship as there is no longer a class difference to stand between them. She is filled with remorse for the way she has treated him. She reveals to him his true identity and tells him that his estate will be restored but he is blinded by anger with Harriet for the injustice she did him and refuses to accept her love. To win him back Harriet and Nancy return to the fair once again dressed as country girls. When Plunkett brings Lionel to the fair and points out the two pretty girls, Lionel realizes he does love Harriet. He forgives her, they agree to marry, as do Plunkett and Nancy.

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