Music by Johann Strauss II, Libretto by Ignaz
SYNOPSIS
Sandor Barinkay was exiled with his father, who had commited a political offence. His castle is in ruins and is thesite of a gypsy encampment. These Romanies regard Barinkay as their Baron and retain a sense of loyalty to the exiled Sandor. Czipra, the Queen of the gypsys sees the return of Sandor in a dream. This greatly upsets Zsuspan, Mayor of Zrinyi, as he has made a fortune rearing pigs on the Barinkay estates. Her prediction is right, and Sandor returns, pardoned, to a rousing welcome. Count Kareska confides to Zsuzpan that the treasure of the Turkish Pasha is hidding in the ruins. They plot to find and share the treasure. Arletta, Zsuspan’s daughter, despite an attachment to Otto, has ambitions in which her father encourages her to be the chatelaine of the castle.
The Romanies acclaim Sandor as their “Gypsy Baron”. He and Saffi fall in love, and a Gypsy wedding is arranged. Kareska upbraids Sandor for irregular behaviour and threatens to have him exiled. His threats are in vain, and so is the plot to steal the treasure. Czipra discloses that Saffi is the daughter of the Pasha, and as the rightful heir, claims the treasure.
The celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of Graf Homonoy and a troop of Hussars come to recruit a force to repel another Turkish invasion. Sandor and his Gypsy friends form the “Romany Hussars”. Zsuspan and Otto drink the recruiting wine and to their horror find they too have enlisted.
The campaign is successful and the Turks defeated. In Vienna there are celebrations in anticipation of the entry of the victorious army. Sandor returns a hero and is created a real Baron. He is reunited wit his Saffi and there is nothing to prevent their gypsy wedding
CHARACTERS
Count Peter Homonay
Conte Carnero
Sándor Barinkay
Kálmán Zsupán
Arsena
Mirabella
Ottokar
Czipra
Sáffi
Pali, Józsi, Ferko, Mihály, Jancsi
The Mayor of Vienna
Seppl
Miksa
Irma, Tercsi, Aranka, Katicza, Juleska, Etelka, Jolan, Ilka
István
A herald, boatmen, gypsy children gipies, gentlemen-at-arms, soldiers, pages, nobles, people