Instance good farce, the fresh spot of Beggar’s Opera are a mass of posts you to definitely intertwine, building at last this new line whereby the master criminal Captain Macheath is (almost) hanged. Peachum, who’s an excellent “fence”-a receiver out of stolen possessions. Before the facts reveals, Macheath has actually covertly get married Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Peachum is actually irate when they discover the surreptitious relationship-getting they had started brushing and you may refining its girl very she can be the new domme of a few rich and you can influential patron. By the marrying, Polly possess defeated the girl parents’ hopes for their occupation once the an excellent profitable prostitute (!). “Our Polly Was an unfortunate Whore!” (Music Example dos) is the scene in which Polly’s moms and dads berate their on her behalf foolishness. (In another of Gay’s “digs” within high-society, he has got an enthusiastic exasperated Mrs. Peachum tell the lady girl, “Why, thou stupid jade, thou wilt be once the sick [used], and as far neglected, since if thou hadst partnered an effective Lord”-implying one to aristocrats was zero visitors so you’re able to spousal discipline.) Also, Mr. Peachum worries you to definitely Macheath knows too-much concerning the Peachums and you can might betray their dad-in-rules getting financial gain. In the future, Mr. and you will Mrs. Peachum strike through to the kaunis seksikГ¤s Burma tytГ¶t best services: Polly is always to change Macheath to the regulators, therefore making new reward having their stop-but rather Polly warns Macheath about his issues.
Peachum’s daughter Polly
Regarding second work, which opens up within the a beneficial tavern, Macheath informs his gang that he need certainly to rest reasonable to own a great while-and he begins to captivate a group of “female of your area” (prostitutes) with reach the fresh tavern. Unfortunately to have your, among the people provides a code to your constables, exactly who enter into so you can arrest Macheath. The following world is decided when you look at the Newgate prison, where jailor Lockit and you will Peachum is arguing from the reward payments. Soon, the fresh jailor’s expecting girl Lucy gets in Macheath’s jail cellphone; Macheath is the dad out of the woman boy. Lucy was not surprisingly outraged to listen to he has actually partnered Polly-which is far more irate whenever Polly arrives at the new prison to consult with the woman partner. A criminal quarrel ensues, mimicking a popular real-life dispute ranging from a couple of operatic sopranos which had occurred towards the phase some many years prior to. Shortly after Polly was pulled out by their father, Macheath manages to relaxed Lucy off because of the claiming you to Polly features developed the marriage.
When Macheath intends to get married Lucy, she assists your escape
Macheath is not totally free for very long about 3rd work; Lockit and Peachum read in which Macheath is covering up. Meanwhile, Polly visits Lucy so you can apologize and you will Lucy presents Polly having one glass of poisoned wines. Prior to Polly is sip on mug, however, she drops it from inside the headache up on viewing Macheath enter in chains, having been recaptured. Each other women ask along with their fathers to have mercy into Macheath, but there’s another twist towards the tale: five more women make an appearance, per with a young child, and every claiming getting Macheath’s wife. Up against this onslaught, Macheath announces he could be happy to getting hanged. But before he goes toward the brand new gallows, good Beggar and you can a player go into the phase. The gamer exclaims that Beggar (evidently the writer with the facts) cannot allow Macheath in order to perish, because the that could be a tragic finish, and you may operas are supposed to end joyfully. The fresh new Beggar agrees to change the fresh new conclude, illogical as such a history-second reprieve was, and at last Macheath admits that their wedding so you’re able to Polly was totally judge.
Tunes Analogy 3 – Bastien und Bastienne – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Johann Andreas Schachtner (once Weiskern) (K6. 46b), 1768 – Zero. 10: “Diggi, Daggi”