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Persian brothers Artaserse and Idaspe are rivals for Berenice’s love. The king condemns Idaspe to fight a lion in the amphitheatre while Berenice watches. Idaspe strangles the lion, and the people call for mercy, leading to a general reconciliation.
Polly Peachum travels to the West Indies in search of Macheath, now a pirate living with Jenny Diver. Mrs Trapes kidnaps Polly to sell her to planter Mr Ducat; Polly disguises herself as a young man. After pirates are defeated and identities exposed, Macheath is executed and Polly marries Cawwawkee, son of the Indian king.
Peachum and his wife discover that their daughter Polly has secretly married Macheath, the highwayman who is one of Peachum’s clients. They arrange to have Macheath captured and killed for his money. Macheath is imprisoned, escapes with Lucy Lockit’s help, and is recaptured. Four other women also claim to be his wives. He prepares to hang, but the Beggar changes the ending to satisfy the audience’s demand for a happy conclusion, and Macheath is reprieved and reunited with Polly.
The plot centers on a love triangle among fictional characters: Persian princess Cleora, Scythian prince Orontes, and Armenian king Tigranes. Cleora is held captive by Orontes but falls in love with him despite being betrothed to Tigranes. In the 1707 version, Queen Thomyris intervenes to prevent the Scythians from sacrificing Cleora after she receives false news that Orontes has died; Tigranes is wounded in battle. The opera’s historical title figure is based on Queen Tomyris, but the love story is fictional.
Persian brothers Artaserse and Idaspe are rivals for Berenice’s love. The king condemns Idaspe to fight a lion in the amphitheatre while Berenice watches. Idaspe strangles the lion, and the people call for mercy, leading to a general reconciliation.
Polly Peachum travels to the West Indies in search of Macheath, now a pirate living with Jenny Diver. Mrs Trapes kidnaps Polly to sell her to planter Mr Ducat; Polly disguises herself as a young man. After pirates are defeated and identities exposed, Macheath is executed and Polly marries Cawwawkee, son of the Indian king.
Peachum and his wife discover that their daughter Polly has secretly married Macheath, the highwayman who is one of Peachum’s clients. They arrange to have Macheath captured and killed for his money. Macheath is imprisoned, escapes with Lucy Lockit’s help, and is recaptured. Four other women also claim to be his wives. He prepares to hang, but the Beggar changes the ending to satisfy the audience’s demand for a happy conclusion, and Macheath is reprieved and reunited with Polly.
The plot centers on a love triangle among fictional characters: Persian princess Cleora, Scythian prince Orontes, and Armenian king Tigranes. Cleora is held captive by Orontes but falls in love with him despite being betrothed to Tigranes. In the 1707 version, Queen Thomyris intervenes to prevent the Scythians from sacrificing Cleora after she receives false news that Orontes has died; Tigranes is wounded in battle. The opera’s historical title figure is based on Queen Tomyris, but the love story is fictional.