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'Bánk bán' is an opera composed by Ferenc Erkel in 1861, based on a stage play of the same title by József Katona. (''Bán'' means ban in English, similar to a viceroy, a duke or a palatine.) The main storyline is based on the assassination of queen Gertrude in 1213, wife of Andrew II.
Hungary in the year 1213. King Andrew II, the monarch of the country, is fighting abroad while Gertrude, his queen, who is of Merenian birth, plays hostess to the leading members of the Court, in the first place foreigners, at prodigal feasts. Bánk, who is the vice-roy or governor of the country, deputy of the king, is touring the poverty-ridden country while Otto, the Queen's younger brother, is trying to make Bánk's wife Melinda succumb to his passion. Headed by Ban Petur, the unsatisfied Magyar nobles, who are worried about the fate of their homeland and anxious for the honour of Bánk's wife, are plotting a conspiracy against the Queen and hope to get Bánk bán for their cause. In the meantime he has returned home. The Viceroy stands with solid loyalty by the throne, but when he witnesses Otto's villainy with his own eyes, he promises the peers rallied around Petur that he shall attend their meeting.
On the porch of the castle of Visegrad, Tiborc, an old peasant, tells Bánk about the desperate poverty of the entire country, a grave consequence of the wasteful extravagance of the foreigners, but he is so overcome by the tragedy of his own position that he listens only halfheartedly. In the meantime Otto, encouraged by the Queen's open approval, has violated Bánk's wife. The desperate woman staggers to her husband half insane with shame. In his bitter grief Bánk blasts a terrible curse at his own son, but then raises to himself the innocent little boy. Finally he asks Tiborc to escort Melinda and their little son to their home, a castle in East Hungary, beyond the River Tisza.
In the throne-room Bánk calls the Queen to account for plunging the country into poverty and for the honour of his betrayed wife. When Gertrude counters him with contemptuous scorn and draws a dagger, he wrests the dagger from her hand and stabs her to death.
Tiborc has reached the bank of the Tisza River with Melinda and her little son. In a fit of insanity Melinda throws herself together with her son into the waves, within view of the helpless old peasant.
By his Queen's bier Andrew II calls to account for the murder the nobles, who deny having had a part in the assault on the Queen. Bánk, however, admits that, convinced of her guilt which was known to all, he has killed the Queen deliberately. King and Viceroy face each other with swords almost drawn when Tiborc arrives with the corpses of Melinda and the child. The sword drops from Bánk's grip and he himself falls over the bodies of his wife and son.
| Contents |
| Synopsis |
| Act I |
| Act II |
| Act III |
Synopsis
Act I
Hungary in the year 1213. King Andrew II, the monarch of the country, is fighting abroad while Gertrude, his queen, who is of Merenian birth, plays hostess to the leading members of the Court, in the first place foreigners, at prodigal feasts. Bánk, who is the vice-roy or governor of the country, deputy of the king, is touring the poverty-ridden country while Otto, the Queen's younger brother, is trying to make Bánk's wife Melinda succumb to his passion. Headed by Ban Petur, the unsatisfied Magyar nobles, who are worried about the fate of their homeland and anxious for the honour of Bánk's wife, are plotting a conspiracy against the Queen and hope to get Bánk bán for their cause. In the meantime he has returned home. The Viceroy stands with solid loyalty by the throne, but when he witnesses Otto's villainy with his own eyes, he promises the peers rallied around Petur that he shall attend their meeting.
Act II
On the porch of the castle of Visegrad, Tiborc, an old peasant, tells Bánk about the desperate poverty of the entire country, a grave consequence of the wasteful extravagance of the foreigners, but he is so overcome by the tragedy of his own position that he listens only halfheartedly. In the meantime Otto, encouraged by the Queen's open approval, has violated Bánk's wife. The desperate woman staggers to her husband half insane with shame. In his bitter grief Bánk blasts a terrible curse at his own son, but then raises to himself the innocent little boy. Finally he asks Tiborc to escort Melinda and their little son to their home, a castle in East Hungary, beyond the River Tisza.
In the throne-room Bánk calls the Queen to account for plunging the country into poverty and for the honour of his betrayed wife. When Gertrude counters him with contemptuous scorn and draws a dagger, he wrests the dagger from her hand and stabs her to death.
Act III
Tiborc has reached the bank of the Tisza River with Melinda and her little son. In a fit of insanity Melinda throws herself together with her son into the waves, within view of the helpless old peasant.
By his Queen's bier Andrew II calls to account for the murder the nobles, who deny having had a part in the assault on the Queen. Bánk, however, admits that, convinced of her guilt which was known to all, he has killed the Queen deliberately. King and Viceroy face each other with swords almost drawn when Tiborc arrives with the corpses of Melinda and the child. The sword drops from Bánk's grip and he himself falls over the bodies of his wife and son.
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