Das Liebesverbot (The Ban on Love), a German 2-act opera by Richard Wagner. Das Liebesverbot opera plot summary, character list, and other opera information.

Das Liebesverbot (The Ban on Love) is a 2-act comic opera. Composed by Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883). He wrote the libretto himself, in German, based on the comedy play "Measure for Measure" by William Shakespeare. It was first performed in Magdeburg, Stadttheater on March 29, 1836.

Setting is in Palermo, 16th century. It has set numbers with accompanied recitative and spoken dialogue, and an Overture.

Main Characters

• Isabella, novice nun (soprano)
• Friedrich, the governor (bass)
• Claudio, Isabella's brother (tenor)
• Luzio, Claudio's messenger (tenor)
• Mariana, Friedrich's wife (soprano)
• Antonio (tenor)
• Angelo (bass)
• Pontio Pilato (comic tenor)
• Dorella (soprano)
• Brighella (comic bass)

Plot Summary / Synopsis

Act I.

Scene 1. Outside Danieli's tavern in a suburb of Palermo

Friedrich is the puritanical governor of Palermo who doesn't believe in much entertainment and carnivals. He arrests the young man Claudio for flirting. Claudio asks his messenger Luzio to fetch for his sister, Isabella, and ask her to help him plead his case.

Scene 2. Cloister garden in the convent of St. Elizabeth

Isabella has become a novice nun, and so has Mariana, Friedrich's wife who he deserted upon rising to power.

Luzio falls in love with Isabella.

Scene 3. A courtroom in Palermo

Claudio is condemned and Isabella can't do anything to ehlp him. Friedrich agrees to pardon him if Isabella will sleep with him. At this point, she feel hopeless. She wants to help her brother at the same time powerless to disobey the governor.

Act II.

Scene 1. The prison garden

Isabella is terribly in despair. She also believes in Luzio's fidelity.

Scene 2. A room in Friedrich's palace

Isabella thinks of a plan and tells Friedrich to meet her at the carnival.

Scene 3. At the carnival

Isabella sends Mariana in her place. This angered Friedrich. Instead of releasing Claudio, he sends an order for his immediate execution. Isabella intercepts the order and exposes Friedrich's hypocrisy. Claudio is eventually pardoned and Isabella discontinues her pursuit to be a nun, and marries Luzio.

Operas by Richard Wagner

• Rienzi 1842
• Der fliegende Hollánder (The Flying Dutchman) 1843
• Tannhäuser 1845
• Lohengrin 1848
• Das Rheinhold 1854
• Die Walküre (The Valkyris) 1856
• Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde), music drama 1859
• Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg) 1867
• Siegfried 1871
• Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods), completes the operatic cycle der ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungs) 1874
• Parsifal, music drama 1882

Sources

The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin, Da Capo Press (1997)

Dictionary of Composers and Their Music by Eric Gilder, Sphere Reference (1987)