Giordano, the composer of Andrea Chenier and Fedora wrote his last opera, Il Re in 1928. It was not successful but he lived on until 1948. The opera is in three short acts but has musical interludes and was intended to be played in one continuous sweep.

Synopsis

Rosalina, a very lovely girl, on the eve of her wedding to Colombello, breaks off her betrothal abruptly and unexpectedly. The reason she gives are that she was lost one day in the forest and she met the king who appeared to her strikingly handsome. Rosalina was overwhelmed by a sudden erotic attraction for him. She felt she adored him beyond all else.

However, at the moment, with the young lady's termination of her engagement to Colombello and her saddened leave taking of her original beloved, Questa e la veste bianca... the distraught parents of both youngsters take advantage of the king's proclamation that he will grant an audience to whomever seeks one if he bears gifts.

The parents explain Rosalina's strange behaviour to the king, who listens to their tale with enchantment. He then agrees to aid them if Rosalina passes the night with him. This will be their 'gift'. Oddly, the king now orders the parents arrested and their daughter brought to his palace.

In the king's bed-chamber, during the following scene, Rosalina arrives attired in wedding garments and is first seen awaiting the king's arrival. When he enters and finds himself alone with her, he listens with joy as Rosalina confirms her great love for him. Becoming exalted by her loveliness and deeply moved by her unswerving dedication to him, the ruler now definitely decides that for Rosalina's own future good in life he will order the attendants to disrobe him so that Rosalina will see the actual truth beneath the bewitching appearance. Rosalina now sees the true king. He is badly aged, sagging, and completely bald. Bereft of all his allure, the enchantment is broken and Rosalina is brought to her senses.

The maiden returns to her ever-loving Colombello and their parents. They are all surprised and delighted that the all-powerful king not only has not even touched her, but that he has also destroyed her strange spell. Rosalina is cured and everybody rejoices.