大象传媒

Prologue

The Animal Tamer invites the audience to visit his menagerie鈥攆eaturing 鈥渢he serpent Lulu.鈥�

Act I

Lulu is sitting for her portrait, observed by Dr. Scho虉n, a wealthy newspaper publisher and her long-time lover. Alone with Lulu, the Painter tries to seduce her. Just then her husband, the Physician, forces his way into the room and collapses in shock from a heart attack. Lulu, seemingly unmoved, realizes she is a rich widow, while the Painter wonders what will happen to her.

Lulu and the Painter have married. She is surprised to learn that Scho虉n鈥攚ho years earlier had found her on the streets, given her an education, and then made her his mistress鈥攈as become engaged. Schigolch, an old man and friend of Lulu鈥檚 who may be her father or a former lover, pays her a visit and she gives him money. Scho虉n now wants Lulu out of his life so that he can marry. He reveals the story of her past to the Painter, who is so horrified by it that he cuts his throat. Sch枚n is shocked by Lulu鈥檚 cold reaction but she, dismissing his protestations, replies that he will eventually marry her anyway.

Weeks later, Lulu is appearing in a ballet composed by Scho虉n鈥檚 son, Alwa. In her dressing room, she tells Alwa of her latest admirer, the Prince. After she has gone on stage, the Prince talks to Alwa of his love for Lulu. Suddenly she storms back in: she has seen Scho虉n in the audience with his fiance虂e and refuses to dance for her. Scho虉n soon follows and demands to be left alone with Lulu. He asks her not to stop his marriage, but when she mentions her plans to marry the Prince, he realizes that he is incapable of letting her go. At Lulu鈥檚 dictation, he writes a letter to his fiance虂e to break off the engagement.

Act II

Scho虉n and Lulu, now married, live in a luxurious home, but she continues to attract admirers, among them the lesbian Countess Geschwitz. Scho虉n is distraught that such people are now part of his life. The Countess, Schigolch, an Acrobat, and a Schoolboy gather at the Sch枚n house and all three men declare their love to Lulu. Alwa appears and, thinking himself alone with Lulu, also declares his love. Scho虉n, who has observed the scene, drives his son away, then hands Lulu a revolver, demanding that she shoot herself to protect his reputation. Lulu justifies herself by saying that she has never pretended to be anything but what she is. Scho虉n forces her to her knees but is distracted by the Schoolboy鈥檚 cries for help. Lulu fires five shots into her husband鈥檚 back and begs the returning Alwa not to turn her over to the police.

An orchestral interlude depicts Lulu鈥檚 arrest, murder trial, imprisonment, illness with cholera, commitment to the hospital, and the plans for her escape: the Countess, who has allowed herself to be infected with the same disease, is to take Lulu鈥檚 place in the hospital.

Alwa, together with the Countess and the Acrobat, awaits Lulu鈥檚 return in Scho虉n鈥檚 former apartment. When she arrives on Schigolch鈥檚 arm, the Acrobat is appalled by her wasted appearance and leaves, threatening to betray her to the police. Alone with Lulu, Alwa again proclaims his love and agrees to go to Paris with her.

Act III

A crowd has assembled in Alwa鈥檚 Paris mansion in honor of Lulu鈥檚 birthday. A number of the company have invested in a new cable railway and question the Banker about their prospects. The Marquis, threatening to reveal Lulu to the police as Scho虉n鈥檚 murderer, tries to blackmail her into working in a brothel, but she defies him. The Acrobat also tries to blackmail Lulu, then Schigolch appears, asking her for money. Lulu breaks into tears. Together with Schigolch, she plots to dispose of the Acrobat by having him killed. There is uproar as the news spreads that the railway shares have collapsed鈥攅veryone is ruined. In the confusion Lulu escapes, just as the Marquis arrives with the police.

In a shabby garret in London, Alwa, now syphilitic and a derelict, and Schigolch await Lulu鈥檚 return from her first night as a prostitute. She arrives with a client, the Professor, who remains silent throughout the proceedings. As he leaves the now destitute Countess appears, bringing with her Lulu鈥檚 portrait. Lulu and her three admirers contemplate its beauty and how their fate has been bound up with it. Lulu goes into the street again, followed by the Countess, while Alwa reflects on the mess he has made of his life. Lulu returns with another client, an African Prince. In a clumsy attempt to protect her, Alwa attacks him and is killed by him. In despair, Lulu rushes out into the street again. Schigolch drags Alwa鈥檚 body away and disappears. The Countess returns. Gazing at the portrait, she considers suicide when Lulu arrives with yet another customer, Jack the Ripper. They argue about money, then go into her room. Suddenly Lulu is heard screaming鈥擩ack has killed her. The Countess tries to help but Jack stabs her as well. He leaves as the dying Countess cries out for Lulu.

- With thanks to Metropolitan Opera