Synopsis
A handsome, young knight (baritone), who has committed a terrible crime
against a young woman in the kingdom of Arthur, has been handed over to
Queen Guenevere (dramatic soprano) and her female court to be sentenced
as they see fit. Guenevere, senses this case is somehow different than
the usual beheading and gives the knight a chance to save his neck. If
he can return in one year and one day and tell them, to their
satisfaction, what it is that all women desire, he will be pardoned. But
he will not be able to flee because all eyes will be watching him and
the order will be to kill him immediately. ( 5:33 ).
(
7:21 ) The knight sets out without any clue, and goes into the village
to ask the women if they know. The village women are a little nervous,
but decide to help him. They suggest it is many things and there is
really no one answer. (quartet 8:15 ).
The
year has passed, and the knight still does not have his answer, and
understands the gravity of his crime. Without much hope, he decides
whatever answer he receives will be the one he will present. ( aria
11:39 )
In a dark wood
he comes across a strange sight of a group of women dancing and singing
in the night. ( SSA chorus 13:40 ). The women disappear, leaving only a
disguised, hooded one. (soprano) She dances and sings. As he tries to
ask her, she crashes into him, revealing that she an ugly, old hag. (
duet 17:30 ) He politely asks her, since she is old, perhaps she is wise
and knows. The hag assures him that she knows the answer, but will give
it to him if he will vow to marry her if it is the correct one.
With
not much choice, he consents and she whispers into his ear.
The
female court assembles once more to hear his answer. ( Interlude 19:37 )
The knight tells them what the hag has told him. ( aria 20:54 ) He says
the answer is simple, considering the history of humans, women only
wish to 'have power over that path that is usually imposed on them by
men.'
The court is
silent and the queen pardons him, but not before there is a terrible
laugh from the hag, who demands her 'prize.' (chorus 23:53 ) The knight
is disgusted, but Guenevere tells him, since this true, the hag will
have her wedding night.
(
Scene 25:24 ) The first night after their marriage. The hag asks her
new husband why he is so despondent. He tells her that he thought he
would never be married to such a hideous, lowborn woman. The hag
reassures him that some of the most beautiful women are the ugliest
inside. Therefore, she presents him with a choice: he can have an ugly
wife who is valuable as gold, or a beautiful wife who is worthless. The
knight tells her she can decide her path. With that the hag turns into a
beautiful maiden who is also noble and true.