This website is going to be very quiet for most of the month of April, as Felix
Salmon goes on holiday to Japan. Sorry about that. Also, for blogspam reasons,
I’m not letting anybody comment on this website while I’m away.
If you need to get in touch with me, my normal email inbox is likely to fill
up very quickly, so use japan@felixsalmon.com
instead.
I’m also going to leave you something to keep you busy while I’m gone: I give
you the synopsis, you tell me what the opera is. This is for real, and not an
April’s Fool. The person with the first right answer (by email, trackback, snail
mail, whatever) gets a lunch at a restaurant of their choosing. It might take
a while for us both to be in the same city, but I promise I will pay up eventually.
ACT I
The Old General bemoans his unrequited love for the Princess, who is in love
with the Young General. He knows that because the Young General is not of
noble blood, the two will never be able to marry.
The King and Queen enter, in the wake of a magnificent victory by the Young
General. The King offers the Young General a reward. The Young General in
response reveals his love for the Princess. Upon being denied, the Young General
plots revenge.
ACT II
The Young General and the Princess decide to elope to his fortress, but are
interrupted by the Imperial Guard, and have to fight. During the battle, they
manage to escape and reach the fortress.
ACT III
The Old General turns up at the fortress. The Young General trusts him, but
the Princess doesn’t. The Young General reveals his plans for revenge to the
Old General, who immediately leaks them to the Royal Army. Betrayed, the Young
General is doomed, and he and his beloved Princess commit suicide by poison.
Good luck – I warn you, it’s not easy!