Last Updated: July 1, 1998

Mateo Fal'kone

Mateo Falcone

A dramatic scene

Composed by Cesar Cui, libretto based on Merimee's story and Zhukovsky's verse rendering

Date of composition: 1906-1907

First Performed: 1907

Go to libretto: Transliterated Russian | KOI-8 Cyrillic

Cast of Characters

• Mateo Falcone: baritone
• Giuseppa, his wife: soprano
• Fortunato, their son: alto
• Sanpiero, a smuggler: tenor
• Gamba, a sergeant: bass
• A Gendarme: bass
• Several soldiers: tenors and basses

Setting:

Action takes place in Corsica in the 19th century.

Synopsis

Adolescent boy meets escaping, wounded smuggler. Boy hides smuggler for a bribe. Boy then betrays smuggler to policeman-uncle in exchange for a watch. Boy's father very angry, makes boy say prayers and shoots boy to death with gun.

Author: Lyle Neff, lneff@indiana.edu