Place—Seville.
Act I. In a cigar factory. Among the visitors Conchita, one of the cigar girls, recognizes Mateo, a wealthy Spaniard, who rescued her from the forced attentions of a policeman. She invites Mateo to her home. The girl's mother, delighted that her daughter has attracted a wealthy man, goes out to make some purchases. Love scene for Mateo and Conchita. The mother returns, and, unseen by Conchita, Mateo gives her money. When Mateo leaves, and Conchita discovers he has given her mother money, she is furious and vows never to see Mateo again, because she thinks he has endeavoured to purchase her love. In her anger she leaves her home.
Act II. A dance hall, where Conchita earns a living by her risqué dances. Mateo, who finds her after a long search, is astounded. He begs her to go away with him. She refuses, and executes a most daring dance for a group of visitors. Mateo, watching her from outside, and wild with jealousy, breaks through the window. Conchita, angry at first, takes from him the key to a little house he owns and tells him that, if he comes at midnight, she will open her lattice to him as to a mysterious lover.
Act III. A street in Seville. Mateo stands before the house. But instead of admitting him, when he pleads his love, she turns and calls, as if to someone within, "Morenito!"—the name of a man he saw her dancing with at the dance hall. Mateo tries to break into the house. Conchita taunts him. He staggers away.
Act IV. Mateo is desperate. Conchita comes to his home and says she certainly expected him to kill himself for love of her. Enraged, he seizes her. She tries to stab him. He beats her without mercy. At last—and it seems about time—Conchita now sees how desperately he must love her. She declares that she has loved him all the time. He takes her, radiant, into his arms.
CRISTOFORO COLOMBO
Opera in three acts and an epilogue, by Alberto Franchetti, text by Luigi Illica. Produced, Genoa, 1892; in revised version, same year, at La Scala, Milan. Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, November 20, 1913, with Titta Ruffo.
Characters
Time—Before, during, and soon after Columbus's voyage of discovery.