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Music Text

Text by John Gay (E)

Scoring

S,2M,2A,T,Bar,BBar,B; chorus
fl.ob-clavicembalo(hpd)-strings; optional cl.bn

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability

World premiere of version
05/06/1920
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London
Nigel Playfair, director
Conductor: Eugene Goossens
Company: unknown

Roles

PEACHUM Baritone
LOCKIT Bass Baritone
MACHEATH Bass
FILCH Tenor
MATT OF THE MINT speaking role
THE BEGGAR speaking role
MRS PEACHUM Mezzo Soprano
POLLY PEACHUM Soprano
LUCY LOCKIT Contralto
DIANA TRAPES Contralto
JENNY DIVER Mezzo Soprano
DRAWER speaking role
JAILOR speaking role
Macheath's Gang (5) speaking roles
Women of the Town (8) speaking roles
Time and Place

London, early 18th century

Synopsis

At the den of Peachum, a receiver of stolen goods, he and his wife ponder the value of various rogues in their employ before turning their attention to the highwayman Captain Macheath, on whom their daughter Polly dotes. When Mrs Peachum and her husband charge her with having married Macheath she is forced to admit it. They console themselves with the prospect that he is likely to be impeached soon for his activities (by them, if no-one else) and Polly left a wealthy widow. She, however, is horrified, and confesses all to the Captain: they decided to part temporarily for safety’s sake.

At a tavern near Newgate Prison, a criminal gang assembles with a view to waylaying a coach on Hampstead Heath. Macheath warns them he must lie low for a while. With the others gone, a bevy of loose women enters to entertain him though, primed by Peachum, they are actually there to betray Macheath, who is handed over to the constables as the act ends.

In Newgate, Macheath offers to marry the jailer’s daughter, Lucy Lockit, but her father and Peachum have already hatched a scheme to share the reward due on his execution. The arrival of Polly with her alternative marital claims confuses the issue further: the two women come close to blows. Eventually, Lucy manages to free Macheath with some spare keys, but he is later recaptured. Having failed to poison Polly, Lucy and her former rival plead with their fathers to get their husband off, but to no avail. Finally, the impresario of the opera, the Beggar, is prevailed upon to grant a reprieve.

Moods

Comic, Dramatic

Subjects
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