Moniuszko - Verbum nobile (one act opera, 1861) (320kbps .mp3)

Moniuszko - Verbum nobile (one act opera, 1861) (320kbps .mp3)

Penny Gore presents today's Opera Matinee: Polish composer Stanislaw Moniuszko's one act comic opera, Verbum nobile (The Word of a Nobleman). An instant success at its Warsaw premiere in 1861, the opera concerns Zuzia and Michal who have never met, but have been promised to each other by their parents. The couple then meet accidentally and fall in love, but as Michal introduces himself as Stanislaw, Zusia's father refuses to let them wed.

Serwacy Lagoda... Patryk Rymanowski (bass)
Marcin Pakula.... Leszek Skrla (baritone)
Zuzia.... Iwona Hossa (soprano)
Stanislaw ....Robert Gierlach (baritone)
Bartlomiej...Piotr Nowacki (bass)
National Polish Radio Chorus
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Lukasz Borowicz (conductor)

Synopsis
Two friends, Serwacy Łagoda and Marcin Pakuła, once gave each other verbum nobile - the word of a nobleman - that their children would marry when they carne of age. The children have grown up never meeting each other, but one day Marcin's son Michał is driving close to Serwacy's manor and falls from his carriage, injuring himself quite badly. Serwacy takes him in and his daughter Zuzia nurses the young man. She doesn't know who he is because Michał doesn't want news of his accident to reach his father and has introduced himself as Stanisław. The young people fall in love, but when Serwacy hears their declarations of love, he says "nothing will come of these affections", because standing in the way is the verbum nobile he once gave his friend. The young lovers are in despair; irritated by their opposition, Serwacy gives another verbum nobile: Zuzia will never be Stanislaw's wife.

Marcin Pakula arrives; he introduces himself to Zuzia and, remembering that this is her name-day, he promises her a special gift - his own son. Serwacy greets his friend warmly, but hearing that Marcin has come specially to officially confirm the betrothal of his son and Zuzia, he is crestfallen. lf truth be told, he wants his daughter to be happy, so he tries to delay the betrothal. Offended at this, Marcin reproaches him sharply, finally the two of them start arguing in earnest. The situation is saved when Stanisław appears - Marcin is amazed to see it is in fact his son Michał.

There seem to be no more obstacles to the young couple's happiness, but Serwacy suddenly remembers he has just given his verbum nobile that Zuzia will never marry Stanisław. Clever Zuzia resolves the dilemma by painting out that the second verbum nobile applied to Stanisław, whereas she wants to marry Michał. Everyone is delighted with the girl's ingeniousness and wish the young couple every happiness.

- With thanks to the Teatr Wielki, Warsaw