squire. They elect him chief of the gypsies. Now affirmed as a gypsy baron he calls on Zsupán and asserts his noble right of the hand of Arsena. Zsupán is not all that impressed. Saffi welcomes Barinkay back to his inheritance. Ever the opportunist, Barinkay now says that he would like to marry Saffi who is as delighted as her gypsy friends. Zsupán and Arsena are now rather indignant at this turn of events and threaten reprisals. Act 2 reveals the castle at dawn the following day. Czipra reveals to Barinkay that Saffi has dreamed of the location of the treasure. They start to search and find it hidden, as she has dreamed, under a nearby rock. As they depart the gypsies arise to start their day's work. Zsupán appears and tells them that his cart has stuck in the mud. He orders the gypsies to come and help him. They resent his order and steal his watch and money. His cries for help bring Carnero, Mirabella, Ottakar and Arsena on the scene, followed by Barinkay, now dressed as a gypsy baron, and Saffi. Barinkay introduces Saffi as his wife but Carnero is not satisfied that all the legal requirements have been met. They tell him the stars have guided them and the birds have witness their vows. This is not quite what the law demands and Mirabella and Zsupán adopt a highly moral tone about the whole affair. At this point Or=Ottakar discovers a few of the gold coins that Barinkay has left behind and is highly excited. Barinkay soon disillusions him by telling him that the treasure has already been found. At this moment, a recruiting party arrives under the command of one of Barinkay's old friend, Count Peter Homonay. He is looking for recruits to fight in the war against Spain. Zsupán and Ottakar are press-ganged into the army. Carnero calls on Homonay to give his official support to the view that Barinkay and Saffi's marriage is illegal but Homonay supports Barinkay. Further complications, however, are revealed. Czipra tells them that Saffi is not really her daughter but the child of the last Pasha of Hungary, a real Princess. Barinkay is once more deflated realising that he cannot marry anyone of such exalted rank, though Saffi says that she will always love him. Barinkay decides that he too will join the Hussars and the men march away leaving behind three broken-hearted ladies. Act 3 finds them all celebrating in Vienna after a victorious battle. Zsupán appears and tells of his own, somewhat inglorious, exploits in Spain. Homonay, Barinkay and Ottakar reveal that they are heroes of battle and have been made into genuine noblemen. There is now no objection to the marriage of Saffi and Barinkay or Ottakar and Arsena. A truly happy ending has arrived. PRINCIPALS: (6 female, 7 male) • Count Peter Homonay, Governor of Temesvar Province • Conte Carnero, Royal Comissioner • Sándor Barinkay, a young exile • Kálmán Zsupán, a wealthy pig farmer of the Banat district • Arsena, his daughter • Mirabella, governess to Zsupán's daughter • Ottokar, her son • Czipra, a gipsy woman • Sáffi, a gipsy girl • Pali, Józsi, Ferko, Mihály, Jancsi, gipsies • The Mayor of Vienna • Seppl, a link boy • Miksa, a boatman • Irma, Tercsi, Aranka, Katicza, Juleska, Etelka, Jolan, Ilka, Arsena's friends • István, Zsupán's servant A herald, boatmen, gipsies, gipsy children, gentlemen-at-arms, soldiers, pages, nobles, people MUSICAL NUMBERS - (translated from the German) 1. In Lively Spirit 2. The Art of Reading and Writing
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=