Doña Francisquita

by Amadeo Vives (1871 - 1932).
A lyric comedy in three acts.
A 'Zarzuela'; a Spanish form of light romantic opera, first performance October 1923, Madrid.

ACT I

On a square in Madrid, where people of different trades are crying their wares. the young student Fernando and his amiable friend Cardona meet Aurora 'la Beltrana', a fiery actress. Fernando declares his love for her but she pretends to scorn him. The scene is noticed by Francisqita as she comes out from the Mass with her mother, Doña Francisca, a widow. The girl is secretly in love with Fernando and, to get him to notice her, she deliberately drops her handkerchief. Fernando promptly picks it up and returns it without paying her much attention. Cardona tries in vain to persuade his friend that Francisquita is better for him than Aurora. At home, Francisquita sings of her unrequited love, Fernando hears the song from the street outside and, applying it to his own feelings for Aurora, also begins to sing. The two monologues form a brief duet.

Then Doña Francisca and Francisquita are visited by Fernando's father. The widow hopes that Don Martías will ask for her hand in marriage, but actually he wants to wed Francisquita. In spite of her disappointment, Doña Francisca urges her daughter to accept. Francisquita decides play along in order to arouse some interest in Fernando. And the first thing he does is to tell Don Matías that his own son is chasing her all the time which kindles jealousy in the 'suitor', who determines to get Fernando away from Madrid. After a bitter argument between Fernando and Aurora, who goes on making fun of the young man, a boisterous group of students bursts on to the scene on the way to the wedding of one of their number-Cardona sings the moving 'Canto de la juventud' [Song of youth]. Later Fernando and Cardona come to see Francisquita, who tells them a metaphorical story about a nightingale who ignored a rose. For the first time Fernando really notices lovely Francisquita. The wedding procession arrives, led by a merry street-band. Aurora comes, too, and from a chaise sings her cheerful music-hall song 'Soy madrilèna [I am from Madrid].

Act 2

Aurora 'la Beltrana' is singing in a crowded open-air tea-room on the outskirts of Madrid. Girls are dancing a fandango. The members of a rowdy brotherhood arrive in carnival fancy dress playing instruments made of kitchen utensils. Fernando and Cardona also put in an appearance, the latter disguised as a woman so that Fernando can make Aurora jealous. Francisquita appears and the young man immediately declares his love in an impassioned duet. When Francisquita leaves to join her mother and Don Matías, Fernando listens to Aurora as she begins singing again. The young man expresses his changing feelings in the romanza 'Por el humo se sabe dónde está el fuégo' [from the smoke, one knows where there is fire]. When Aurora appears, Fernando is seated in the refreshment room with Cardona, who is still dressed as a woman. Believing that she is one of Fernando's new conquests, Aurora rushes like a wild beast upon Cardona, who heats a terrified retreat. Then she tearfully begs Fernando not to desert her, but he rejects her. Aurora angrily threatens to have her revenge. Francisquita, Doña Francisca and Don Matías finally meet Fernando and Cardona, Fernando's jealous father regrets having accepted Francisquita's suggestion to be presented to 'his future mother-in-law', before his son, following his orders, left Madrid. When Fernando embraces Francisquita, the 1atter pretends to faint and falls into his arms, a moment which the two young people make the most of in order to snatch a kiss. Then, at the dance, Aurora sings a mazurka, asking it anyone will dance with her, so as to get Fernando to invite her.

But it is Don Matías who partners her in order to show how young in spirit he is. Lorenzo, one of Aurora's friends, intervenes, but Don Matías quarrels with him and manages to have his way. Fernando and Francisquita take advantage of the confusion to start dancing.

Act 3

At night in a Madrid street, some couples of romantic lovers, concealed in the shadows, tenderly whisper sweet nothings to each other. Francisquita tel1s Don Matías that she will not go to the Cutler's Ball, though later he does arrive there with her mother whom she has convinced that Fernando is actually making a play for her. Aurora 'la Beltrana,' argues with Lorenzo, and the latter, who knows that she is in love with Fernando, decides to go to Don Matías's home to challenge the young man. Don Matías determines to respond personally to the threat.

The hall is held in the courtyard of a large house. Egged on by Cardona, Aurora sings the 'Bolero del Marabú' (Bolero of the Marabou). When Francisquita and her mother arrive, the latter tries to flirt with Fernando, to his great surprise. Don Matías realizing that Doña Francisca warns to marry his son reproaches her and reminds her that 'she could be his mother'. Cardona then retorts that a similar thing would apply to him it he married Francisquita. Don Matías finally understands that Fernando and Francisquita, are the ones who must wed. In the finale, the entire company sings the 'Canto de la juventud' [song of youth].