I Masnadieri

Act l

Carlo Moor has joined a group of political agitators and dreams of liberty and justice. He hopes to realise these goals, regardless of whether he remains the odd one out within the radical camp. He has been waiting for a long time for a reconciliatory letter from his father, who has rebuffed him. Instead, Rolla, the man behind the group, bears a letter from Francesco, Carlo's younger brother, who writes in his father's name: Carlo should never return home, otherwise he can expect to be imprisoned. The rejection of his father, his desire for his sweetheart, Amalia, and finally Rolla's persuasiveness, all compel Carlo to conspire with the dubious friends and fight as their ringleader. The group acknowledge him as their headman, less for his leadership qualities than for his social standing.

In his vengefulness towards his favoured brother, the jealous Francesco is still unsatisfied: he even wants to get rid of the patriarch, Massimiliano Moor, in order to finally become the head of the family himself. He orders the servant, Arminio, to go to his father in disguise and pass on the message that Carlo has been killed in a fight. Francesco hopes that the old man will die of grief for his son.

Amalia, who has lived in the Moor house for years, is the old father's caregiver. He is tormented by nightmares. Although Moor has rebuked the son that Amalia loves, she has remained at his side. Amalia's lament and accusations turn into reminiscing about her past with Carlo.

Arminio announces the death of the firstborn. Serving as fictitious evidence are the sword, a piece ofbloody uniform and a letter, Carlo's last legacy, inscribed in his own blood: Amalia is now released from her vow of fidelity to Carlo and he asks her to become the wife at Francesco's side. Amalia would rather die than to obey. The father is stricken so severely with the loss of his eldest son, who he believes he

has driven to his grave, that he collapses to the floor like a dead man.

Act II

Francesco is already celebrating his new power. Amalia has found seclusion at the grave of the older Moor, and there she prays in despair, numb with alcohol and pills. Arminio is plagued by a guilty conscience and admits to Amalia that Carlo and his father are still alive.

Half in a trance, she barely realises what this means. Francesco then appears and reminds her that she is to become his wife. She rejects him decisively. Francesco threatens to make her his whore. But Amalia only strengthens her resistance.

Rolla, who has become politically active of his own accord, has been arrested and his execution is planned. In order to free him, Carlo is forced to commit arson with his bandits, and they succeed in freeing Rolla amid the chaos. Although Carlo is celebrated as their leader, he cannot join in on the jubilation. His ideals simply do not coincide with the terrorist activities of the ring. And what's more, his desire for Amalia, so distant from him now, is becoming greater and greater. He leads a double life he would rather escape from. Suddenly Carlo's men announce that soldiers surround them. Despite being battle weary, he charges into the altercation along with the fanatics.

Act III

Amalia has fled from Francesco. Unexpectedly, Carlo and Amalia meet up with each other. She wants to run away with him, never to be separated from him again. Amalia tells Carlo ofhis brother Francesco's treacherous schemes. Carlo wants revenge, but conceals his criminal duplicity from his beloved. After he has brought Amalia to safety, he becomes so fraught with guilt that he wants to take his own life.

Francesco used his father's collapse to allege his death and has had him locked away. Arminio secretly takes care of the old man. Carlo discovers the two of them, recognises his father and wants to free him. Having become disoriented in the meantime, the man doesn't recognise his son. Marked by in sanity, he tells Carlo the mad tale of his fate. Possessed by a livid sense of revenge, Carlo calls his men together.

Act IV

Francesco is haunted by a nightmare about the scene of Judgement Day. In it a Cardinal appears before him with the decree that his crimes will never be forgiven.

Carlo, despite being overjoyed to see his father again, quickly realises that his past and future life cannot be unified. He asks for the old man's blessing while at the same time trying to banish his father from his soul.

Carlo's men report: Francesco has managed to escape from them, but they have Amalia as their hostage.

He feels there is slowly no escape from his predicament. So deeply enmeshed in terrorist activities, and filled with adrenalin from the fanatic sense of loyalty demanded by the group, Carlo sees only one alternative: to estinguish his own past with the life of Amalia. He kills her. Left behind is the father, marked by madness. Hate and violence find no end.

TRANSLATED BV MEGAN HAVES