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Johann Baptist HennebergBenedikt SchackFranz Xaver Gerl

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

PH_"Stein_der_Weisen"_US:PH_Stein der Weisen 31.8.2010 11:03 Uhr Seite 1

Act One

The inhabitants of an Arcadian island have gathered to give sacrifice to Astromonte, their

guardian spirit. Sadik, the lord of the island, notices that his foster son Nadir and his daughter

Nadine are not at the ceremony. Together with the woodsman Lubano and his new wife Luba-

nara (who have unlawfully married), they arrive late at the island’s shrine with their offerings.

The other worshippers flee in horror: an old custom says that only virgin women and men may

enter Astromonte’s shrine. Lubanara complains to Lubano about having to stay at home while

he goes hunting. Lubano, for his part, is suspicious: he fears that his wife might spend her time

with other men while he is gone. Lubanara will go to any lengths to stave off her boredom, and

the threat of having to face up to the might of Eutifronte, the spirit of the Underworld, cuts little

ice. Lubano reflects on his moody new wife. Sadik punishes Lubano for his temple transgression

by taking away his hunting weapons. Lubanara’s fate he puts in Astromonte’s hands. Sadik fears

that Astromonte may direct his wrath at his children, too, and has a creeping suspicion that

Astromonte may take Nadine away.

Suddenly, a genie appears to announce that Astromonte will soon arrive. As a gift, the genie

gives Sadik a bird that Astromonte wishes to present to the most innocent girl on the island.

The girls immediately argue over who this may be; but the genie interrupts them to say that the

girl who wins the bird will be the one it starts to sing to. Lubanara has hopes of being carried

away in Astromonte’s cloud-chariot, too. But Lubano has been listening, and locks her into their

hut before he leaves. Lubanara calls upon the fearsome Eutifronte, Astromonte’s brother, to free

her. Eutifronte rises up out of the Earth and does so. When Lubano returns, he threatens to beat

Eutifronte unless he leaves. Eutifronte does so, but takes Lubanara back with him to the Under-

world, while Lubano suddenly grows antlers. When Eutifronte’s hunters appear and try to kill

the “stag”, Lubano flees.

Nadir is afraid that Astromonte may be so taken by Nadine’s beauty that he might abduct her.

Both want to flee; but suddenly they hear Astromonte’s voice, threatening Nadine with death

should she attempt this. The islanders urge Sadik to begin proceedings with the bird. To univer-

sal disappointment, it does not sing to anyone. Only when it is Nadine’s turn does it start to do

so. Nadine is congratulated on this gift from Astromonte, who appears soon after in his cloud-

chariot to accept his sacrifices. As he is about to leave, the bird sings again, and Astromonte

asks which of the shepherdesses has won his gift. Astromonte takes Nadine and disappears in

his chariot. See thing with anger and despair, Sadik and Nadir demand Nadine’s return from their

alleged guardian spirit. Lubano, meanwhile, calls upon Eutifronte to give his wife back, too.

Preparations are made to set off after the cloud-chariot.

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Act Two

The islanders seeking Eutifronte are caught in a storm and sink into the sea. Eutifronte

boasts at having destroyed Astromonte’s servants. The genie admonishes him, however:

he is not allowed to destroy humanity.

Lubano has survived the shipwreck. He reflects on all the trouble his love has caused him,

and on having to rush around the world like a madman to find his wife again. Nadir, who has

also survived the shipwreck, curses Astromonte in a dream. When he awakens, Eutifronte is

there. Eutifronte explains that he is Astromonte’s brother, and tells their story: he and his

brother are the sons of a famous philosopher and magician.

Eutifronte fell out with his older brother over who should inherit the all-powerful Philoso-

phers’ Stone, and cursed him so much that the father decided that neither should have it.

Instead, he locked the stone away, and told them that it would only ever be inherited by one

of their sons. At the time, both brothers were in love with a princess. Astromonte took her as

his wife. She bore him a son, but Eutifronte had him killed. The princess died of grief over her

lost child. As a consolation, Astromonte’s father gave him the magic bird, which will attract

anyone or anything Astromonte wishes. Eutifronte finishes by telling Nadir that he will

only get Nadine back if he kills Astromonte using a magic sword which Eutifronte will

forge for the purpose. Lubano is ranging about the island, hungry and bemoaning his fate.

All he can find is a book full of proverbs, which tells him that only through patience and

perseverance will he find happiness and contentment. Lubanara appears and tells Lubano

how she has stood up to Eutifronte. Now she wants to warn Nadir, to prevent him becoming

a powerless tool of Eutifronte’s revenge and killing Astromonte. Eutifronte towarts her,

though, and gives her the voice of a cat.

Lubano and Lubanara resolve to seek out Eutifronte, to get him to pardon them and break

the spell. Eutifronte tells Nadir that hewill be handed themagic sword of revenge in the Vaults

of Terror. But Nadir is having doubts about winning Nadine back by taking and using the

sword.

Lubano and Lubanara appear, and all three are delighted to see each other again. The joy is

short-lived, however, as seven hammer-blows summon Nadir into the Vaults of Terror. For his

battle against Astromonte, Eutifronte also gives Nadir a magic deatharrow with which he can

even kill the magic bird. When Nadir hears the bird – an indication of where Nadine must be

– he sets off to follow the sound. Lubano, left behind, muses on love’s moods.

Nadine, meanwhile, is beginning to doubt Nadir’s love. Arriving at Astromonte’s palace, Nadir

finds the magic bird and attempts to kill it. His arrowhits Nadine, however, fatally wounding

her. Nadir curses Eutifronte, and the genie urges him to flee the scene.

Eutifronte takes on the appearance of Lubano, to encourage Nadir to kill his friend, too.

Nadir falls for Eutifronte’s deception, and is about to strike Lubano downwith the sword

when Astromonte stops him. He promises Nadir both the bird and Nadine’s life back if

he will give him the sword. Sadik and all the other followers who perished at sea would

be returned to life, too.

Astromonte also reveals Nadir’s true identity to him: he is his lost son. Eutifronte’s people

did not kill him; they cast him out to sea in a cradle. Eutifronte and all his demons are

outraged and threaten Nadir, who hands the sword to his father Astromonte.

At this moment the genie appears, and gives Nadir the Philosophers’ Stone. Nadine and

Sadik come back to life. Astromonte orders Eutifronte to leave the country: only when

his heart has mended will he embrace him once more as a brother. Lubano and Lubanara

are released from their spell; and everyone thanks Astromonte, and asks for his protection

for Nadir and Nadine’s wedding.

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