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Die Gezeichneten
Franz Schreker 1878 1934
I
The deformed nobleman Alviano Salvago has created an idyllic spot named Elysium on a delightful island. In an underground cavern of the island aristocrats rape kidnapped girls from the nearby town, who are then killed. When Alviano discovers this he decides to present the island to the people of Genoa. Carlotta Nardi, the daughter of the Podestà, is present at the formal handing-over of the island. The nobleman Tamare Vitelozzo has an eye on her, but she wants nothing to do with him. Pietro, a hired assassin, entrusts the young kidnapped girl Ginevra Scotto to the care of Alviano’s housekeeper Martuccia, with the intention of handing her over to the nobles. In the meanwhile the senators have decided to refer the acceptance of Alviano’s gift to the Duke, Antoniotto Adorno. Carlotta, who has a heart condition, is a gifted artist and succeeds in convincing Alviano to agree to model for her.
II
Duke Adorno asks time to think about the Elysium affair, to the senators’ great annoyance. Tamare asks the Duke to act as a middle-man between himself and Carlotta. When the Duke realises the truth about Elysium, he declares the island to be forbidden territory for the moment. In Carlotta’s studio, the paintress and Alviano experience a mutual attraction. Their chaste embrace is interrupted by the arrival of Adorno to plead Tamare’s case.
III
Townspeople admire the beauty of the island now that Adorno has lifted his ban, although the nobles continue to celebrate their orgies. Ginevra, however has escaped; Pietro kills Martuccia before she can warn Alviano. Carlotta allows herself to be persuaded to visit the grotto of love by Tamare. Alviano is greatly worried and searches for her in vain. When the police arrest Alviano and charge him with the kidnapping and murder of young girls, he leads the officers into the cave. There they find the unconscious body of Carlotta; Tamare proudly declares that he has made love to her. Alviano is filled with fury and stabs his rival dead. Carlotta recovers consciousness but is so terrified by the scene before her that her heart fails. Dazed, Alviano rushes headlong through the crowd.
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