La Muette de Portici

Act I
Naples in 1647 under Spanish rule since 1443. Before the palace chapel, Alphonse d’Arcos, son of the authoritarian Viceroy, is preparing to marry noble Elvire who has just arrived from Spain. But he cannot forget Fenella, the humble dumb girl he once seduced incognito. He is worried by her recent disappearance: did she kill herself?
Radiant Elvire appears with the nuptial procession. But Fenella, who has just escaped from the royal prison, bursts in and the commiserated princess takes her under her protection. At the end of the marriage blessing, Fenella recognizes the bridegroom and denounces him in public. She takes advantage of everyone’s astonishment to run away.

Act II
The village of Portici near Naples. The fisherman Masaniello encourages his friends with seditious songs. He is worried by his missing sister Fenella. He intends to avenge her even if it means defying the law imposed by a foreign authority. He invites his friend Pietro to fight for their country.
After having contemplated suicide, Fenella confides in her brother: her seducer is a Spaniard but she chooses not to reveal his name. The reason put forward by Masaniello to mobilize the people is not so much this abuse of power as a new tax.

Act III
The palace of Naples. Deceived as soon as she is married, Elvire forgives Alphonse and decides to watch over Fenella. A crowd gathers at Naples marketplace. Selva, the officer of the guards, recognizes Fenella and is about to arrest her. Masaniello and Pietro are alarmed by the women’s screams. Furious Masaniello stabs a guard. The soldiers are disarmed by the populace who then rely on God. The arms are handed out to the ringing of the tocsin.

Act IV
While the Viceroy is besieged in the fortress of Castel Nuovo, Masaniello receives the leading citizens who beg him for mercy. He pardons them all the more since he is disgusted by the rebels’ murders. Fenella, upset by the slaughter, arrives only to fall asleep from exhaustion. But Portici is endangered as Alphonse and Elvire seek to take shelter there while the people led by Pietro demand the head of the Spanish heir. Fenella welcomes them at her brother’s dwelling and the latter chooses to follow the rules of hospitality, even fostering the princely couple’s departure for Castel Nuovo. While the councilmen present Masaniello with the city’s keys and the people hail their hero, Pietro musters the malcontents who resolve to kill the indulgent fisherman.

Act V
At the Viceroy’s palace, Pietro and the conspirators celebrate the end of tyranny for Masaniello will soon succumb to poison.
But Alphonse marches against the palace with his partisans while the people are worried at the awakening of Vesuvius and appeal to Masaniello. Weakened by the poison’s effect, he briefly regains his senses with his sister by his side and leads the insurgents. He saves Elvire from the mob’s fury before dying. Desperate Fenella throws herself out of a window as Vesuvius is erupting. The people bow down and beg forgiveness for their crime.