Opera Guide and Synopsis: La Fanciulla Del West, by Giacomo Puccini

The opera La fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on December 10, 1910. The libretto was adapted by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini from the play The Girl of the Golden West by David Belasco. The story takes place in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. The opera is not frequently performed, and has been criticized for failing to provide "atmosphere" like Puccini's other works (most notably Madama Butterfly).

Characters in La fanciulla del West

• Minnie Smith (Soprano)
• Jack Rance, a sheriff (Baritone)
• Dick Johnson/Ramirez, a bandit (Tenor)
• Nick, a bartender (Tenor)
• Ashby, Wells-Fargo agent (Bass)
• Sonora, miner (Baritone)
• Trin, miner (Tenor)
• Sid, miner (Baritone)
• Handsome, miner (Baritone)
• Harry, miner (Tenor)
• Joe, miner (Tenor)
• Happy, miner (Baritone)
• Larkens, miner (Bass)
• Billy Jackrabbit, an Indian (Bass)
• Wowkle, his "squaw" (Mezzo-soprano)
• Jake Wallace, a travelling minstrel (Baritone)
• José Castro, a member of Ramirez's gang (Bass)
• Postillon (Tenor)

Synopsis of La fanciulla del West

Act I

Miners gather in the Polka saloon. Jake sings about going home, and the miners join in. They take up a collection so that Larkens, who is beside himself with homesickness, can return home. Ashby enters, certain that he is about to catch the bandit Ramirez.

The miners toast Minnie. Sonora and Rance get into a shooting quarrel, but Minnie enters and breaks up the fight. The miners gather around Minnie as she reads the Bible. Minnie advises Billy to marry Wowkle. Although he is already married, Rance is in love with Minnie, but she rejects him.

Dick Johnson enters. Rance is jealous and wants him gone, but Minnie, who has met him once before, vouches for him. Castro is brought in, about to be hung, but offers to reveal Ramirez's hiding place. The miners go with him, leaving Johnson and Minnie alone.

Johnson tells Minnie that he is in love with her. She confesses that she has never kissed a man. He has come to steal gold from the saloon, knowing that Minnie protects it for the miners, but after his conversation with Minnie he has a change of heart.

Act II

Wowkle sings her baby to sleep in Minnie's cabin. Billy enters, telling her that Minnie wants them to marry. Minnie enters, asking them to set another place at the table. Johnson arrives. He attempts multiple times to embrace Minnie, but she refuses. She tells him about life with the miners. There is a snowstorm, and Wowkle returns home. Impulsively, Minnie agrees to give Johnson a kiss.

Trapped by the snowstorm, Johnson spends the night. The miners arrive to warn Minnie about Ramirez, but she denies having anyone there. She confronts Johnson, who confesses that he is Ramirez. Angry at him for betraying her trust, she tells him to leave. He is shot, however, and she takes him back inside and hides him in the loft, where he faints.

Rance enters, looking for Ramirez. Minnie denies having him, and threatens Rance. He discovers Johnson, however, when a drop of blood falls. Minnie agrees to a game of poker with Rance: if he wins, Johnson will surrender and she will marry Rance, but if she wins, he will let Ramirez go. Minnie pretends to faint and stacks the deck while Rance isn't looking, and so she wins the game.

Act III

Rance is sitting beside a fire in the forest when he receives news of Ramirez's capture. The miners bring Johnson in, planning to hang him for stealing Minnie from them. Minnie enters to protect Johnson, threatening the miners with her pistol. She reminds them of how she always cared for them, and begs them to show Johnson mercy for her sake. They eventually relent and let her leave with Johnson, knowing that they will never see her again.

Sources:

• Kobbé, Gustav. The Complete Opera Book. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.
• Mason, Henry L. Opera Stories. Boston: Henry L. Mason, 1912.
• Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goer's Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.