Show Synopsis:
Laetitia works in the house of Miss Todd, an older woman who loves gossip and her small town. She begins to fall in love with a wanderer named Bob, who stays at Miss Todd?s. Miss Todd and Laetitia finds out about Bob?s past, but Laetitia believes that they will be happy together, so Miss Todd begins supporting Bob financially and stealing from her neighbors to do so. Bob begins to plan to leave and Laetitia agrees to get him alcohol if he will stay around. They rob a liquor store, since Miss Todd is a prohibitionist, and a drunken Bob is almost caught while Miss Todd and her fellow town gossip Miss Pinkerton discuss the robbery. Laetitia and Miss Todd try to convince Bob to run away and when he refuses, Miss Todd vows to call the police. Laetitia and Bob steal Miss Todd?s valuables and run away, leaving Miss Todd to grieve alone.
Character:
Bob, a wandering vagrant with a taste for alcohol and no sense of loyalty to anyone.
Song Context:
Bob is sick of living confined in Miss Todd's house and begins to pack to leave.
Fun Facts:
1) This radio opera was one of the first operas written exclusively for radio.
2) This was Gian Carlo Menotti's first English opera, and he composed it at the young age of 28.
"When the air sings of summer,
I must wander again.
Sweet landlord is
The sky, rich house is the plain,
And to live is to wander through the
Sun and the rain.
When the air sings of summer,
I must wander again.
First you wander in youth and joy,
Then you'll wander to still the
Fears in an old heart.
First you wander to find your love,
Then you'll wander to hide your
Tears, for a wanderer must depart.
When a man owns a house
He is a bird in a cage
Whose captivity pain is
sweetened with age.
Ah! The sharp joy of freedom
Is my loss and my gain.
When the air sings of summer,
I must wander again."