| Description: |
Donna Ribalda is lost in a forest, escaping an unknown assailant. Carmen Ghia enters. When they hear someone approaching, they decide to disguise Donna Ribalda as a man. Don Octave enters and removes his mask, only to be recognized as the unknown assailant in pursuit of Donna Ribalda. Donna Ribalda, removing her disguise, admonishes Don Octave when she realizes that it is he, her brother, who was her assailant. Vying for Don Octave's attention, Carmen and Donna Ribalda engage in a vocal competition. Realizing that they are lost in the forest, the trio frets, only to be saved by a St. Bernard dog with an empty cask around his neck. Contemplating the explanation for why the cask is empty, the trio is interrupted by the arrival of the stoned guest, Il Commendatoreador, who also happens to be Carmen's father. Jealous of the relationship that has developed between Carmen and Don Octave, Donna Ribalda strangles Carmen Ghia. In an attempt to avenge his lover's death, Don Octave tries to stab his sister, but ends up stabbing himself. Il Commendatoreador shoots Donna Ribalda and keels over, dead drunk. Arising from the dead, the cast sings a rousing finale.
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| Character List (Major): |
Donna Ribalda(mz)
Carmen Ghia(off-coloratura)
Don Octave(counter tenor)
Dog(Houndentenor)
Il Commendatoreador(basso blotto)
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