Ingrid

In two acts by KARL GRAMANN.



Text by T. KERSTEN.





Ingrid is a musical composition of considerable interest, the local

tone and colouring being so well hit. It is a Norwegian picture

with many pretty and original customs, to which the music is well

adapted and effective, without being heart-stirring.



The scene is laid in Varoe in Norway. Helga the rich Norwegian easant

Wandrup's daughter is to wed Godila Swestorp, her cousin, and the most

desirable young man in the village. She entertains but friendly

feelings for him while her heart belongs to a young German traveller,

and Godila, feeling that she is different from what she was, keeps

jealous watch over her, and swears to destroy his rival.



In the second scene Ingrid, a young girl (coach-maid), whose business

it is to direct the carioles from station to station, drives up with

the German Erhard, who meeting with a severe accident in the mountains,

is saved by her courage. Full of tenderness she dresses his wounds; he

thanks her warmly, and presents her with a miniature portrait of his

mother. She mistakes her gratitude for love, and it fills her with

happiness, which is instantly destroyed, when Helga appears and sinks

on the breast of her lover. Ingrid, a poor orphan, who never knew

father or mother, is deeply disappointed and bitterly reproaches heaven

for her hard fate. The scene is witnessed by old father Wandrup, in

whose heart it arouses long buried memories and he tries to console

Ingrid. But when she claims the right to hear more of her parents he

only says, that she was found a babe at his threshold twenty-five

years ago, and that nothing was ever heard of her father and mother.



The second act opens with a pretty national festival, in which the

youths and maidens, adorned with wild carnations wend their way in

couples to Ljora (love's-bridge in the people's mouth), from whence

they drop their flowers into the foaming water. If they chance to be

carried out to sea together, the lovers will be united, if not, woe to

them, for love and friendship will die an untimely death.--Godila tries

to offer his carnations to Helga, but she dextrously avoids him, and

succeeds in having a short interview with Erhard, with whom she is to

take flight on a ship, whose arrival is just announced. Erhard goes

off to prepare everything, and a few minutes afterwards Helga comes out

of the house in a travelling dress. But Godila, who has promised

Wandrup to watch over his daughter, detains her.



Wild with love and jealousy he strains her to his breast and drags her

towards the Ljora-bridge. Helga vainly struggles against the madman,

but Ingrid, who has witnessed the whole occurence, waves her white

kerchief in the direction of the ship, and calls back Erhard, who is

just in time to spring on the bridge, when its railing gives way, and

Godila, who has let Helga fall at the approach of his enemy, is

precipitated into the waves. Erhard tries to save him, but is

prevented by Ingrid, who intimates that all efforts would be useless.

Helga in a swoon is carried to the House, when Wandrup, seeing

his child wounded and apparently lifeless, calls Godila, and hears with

horror that his body has been found dashed to pieces on the rocks. Now

the father's wrath turns against Erhard, in whom he sees Godila's

murderer, but Ingrid, stepping forth, relates how the catastrophe

happened, and how Godila seemed to be punished by heaven for his attack

on Helga. Everybody is touched by poor despised Ingrid's

unselfishness, she even pleads for Helga's union with Erhard, nobly

renouncing her own claims on his love and gratitude. Wandrup relents

and the happy lovers go on the Ljora-bridge, whence their carnations

float out to sea side by side. The ship's departure is signalled, and

all accompany the lovers on board. Only Ingrid remains. Her strength

of mind has forsaken her; a prey to wild despair she resolves to

destroy herself. Taking a last look at Erhard's gift, the little

medallion-picture, she is surprised by Wandrup, who recognizes in it

his own dead love. "She is thy mother too Ingrid", he cries out. "My

mother, she, and Erhard my brother!"--This is too much for Ingrid; with

an incoherent cry she rushes on the bridge intending to throw herself

over. But Wandrup beseechingly stretches out his arms, crying "Ingrid,

stay, live for thy father". At first the unhappy girl shrinks back,

but seeing the old man's yearning love she sinks on her knees, then

slowly rising, she returns to her father, who folds her in loving

embrace.