Pyramus and Thisbe

Originally taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and transplanted by a group of rustic ‘Mechanicals’ into Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is a familiar one. Two lovers are unable to be together due to their feuding families. A crack in an interconnecting wall allows the two to communicate their love, and they arrange to meet each other near Ninny’s tomb. When Thisbe arrives, Pyramus is not there. She sees only a Lion with a bloody mouth, and assumes the worst. In her haste to leave she drops her veil. Pyramus arrives to find only a veil, and the bloodied Lion, and assumes her dead. He throws himself on his sword in sorrow, only for Thisbe to return and find his body. She also takes her life, and their blood stains the fruits of the mulberry bush.

In Lampe’s operatic adaptation, the Mechanicals are transplanted from Shakespeare’s play, to perform their scene as an opera, while a group of gentlemen remark on the absurdity of operatic convention. With some beautiful vocal writing to rival any of the great baroque opera composers, such as Hasse and Handel, and the opportunity to use all of the genius of Shakespeare’s comedy, Lampe’s opera Pyramus and Thisbe should definitely be performed more often.

The scene breakdown below is given from the edition by Peter Holman, 1995.

‘Are the properties and everything ready for the performance?’ - Master, Prompter, Semibrief, 1st Gentleman

‘If we offend, it is with our good will’ - Prologue, 1st Gent, 2nd Gent

Overture

‘Who comes here?’ - 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘In this same interlude’ - Wall

The Wall’s Song 'The Wretched Sighs And Groans' - Wall

‘Who would desire lime and hair to sing better?’ - 2nd Gent, 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘O grim-looked night’ - Pyramus

Aria 'And Thou, O Wall' - Pyramus

Recitative ‘Thanks, courteous wall’ - Pyramus

Aria 'O Wicked Wall' - Pyramus

‘The wall methinks, being sensible, should curse again’ - 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘The promised joys that lovers feel’ - Thisbe

Aria 'Fly, Swift Good Time' - Thisbe

‘O Wall, full often hast thou heard’ - Thisbe, Pyramus

Whispering Duet 'Not Shafalus to Procrus’ - Thisbe, Pyramus

Recitative ‘O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall’ - Pyramus, Thisbe

Duet 'I Go Without Delay' - Pyramus, Thisbe

Recitative ‘Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so’ - Wall

‘Now is the mural down between the two neighbours’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘You ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear’ - Lion

Aria 'Ladies Don't Fright You' - Lion

‘A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘This lanthorn doth the horned Moon present’ - Moon, 2nd Gent, 1st Gent

Aria 'The Man In The Moon I Am, Sir' - Moon

‘I am weary of this moon’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Moon

Recitative ‘This is old Ninny’s tomb’ - Thisbe

Aria 'Where Is My Love, My Pyre Dear' - Thisbe

‘O! O! O! O!’ - Lion, Thisbe, 1st Gent, 2nd Gent

Arioso 'Sweet Moon, I Thank Thee' - Pyramus

Recitative ‘But stay, O spite!’ - Pyramus

Aria 'Approach, Ye Furies Fell' - Pyramus

‘This passion - and the death of a dear friend’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

‘Recitative ‘O wherefore, nature, didst thou lions frame’ - Pyramus

Arioso ‘Come tears, confound’ - Pyramus

Aria 'Now I Am Dead' - Pyramus

‘So, there’s an end of Pyramus’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘Asleep, my love?’ - Thisbe

Aria 'These Lily Lips' - Thisbe

‘Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Dance

Epilogue, Recitative ‘Gentlemen and ladies, we’ve a boon to ask’ - Pyramus, Thisbe

Duet 'Thus Folding, Beholding' - Pyramus, Thisbe

Chorus ‘Now, e’er you remove’ - Tutti