大象传媒

Overture:

S酶ren Norby arrives at the Helsinki Music Centre. He walks from one hall to another and ends up in the dungeons of the Palace.

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ACT I

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Gustav Vasa鈥檚 mother Cecilia and sister Margareta, whose husband Joakim Brahe was beheaded in the Stockholm Bloodbath, are being held as prisoners in the Stockholm Palace.

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Sten Sture鈥檚 widow Christina Gyllenstierna is also among the women and children that are held captive. Christina tells the other prisoners that the leader of the rebellious movement, Gustav Vasa, is right outside the city. The women pin their hopes on him.

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S酶ren Norby enters the jail and tells the women that they will be taken before Christian II, the executor of the Stockholm Bloodbath.

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The King of the Kalmar Union, Christian II of Denmark, known as the Tyrant, walks triumphantly in the halls of the Stockholm Palace.

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After arriving at the Palace, he learns from S酶ren Norby, that Gustav Vasa and his Swedish troops are nearby. Norby urges Christian to remain calm. Christian blusters to destroy the enemy and to use Gustav鈥檚 mother as a hostage.

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The women are brought up before Christian. They are furious, blame Christian for murdering their husbands and tell him that they are also prepared to die themselves.

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Christian decides to send Christina to persuade the Swedes to retreat immediately. If Gustav declines, Christian will send him his mother鈥檚 head as a gift the following day. Cecilia, Gustav鈥檚 mother, urges Christina to refuse and says she will rather die. However, Christina agrees to deliver Christian鈥檚 message and she leaves the Palace with Norby.

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The outlines of Gustav Vasa鈥檚 rebellion camp are seen on the outskirts of the city.

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ACT II

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At sunset Gustav Vasa ponders the transience of life. Together with his soldiers he prays to the heretic protestant God to protect Sweden and to give them the strength to beat the enemy. Gustav orders a dawn attack.

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Norby and Christina arrive. Gustav is taken by surprise, because he believes that Sven Sture鈥檚 window is collaborating with the enemy. Christina tells Gustav that Christian will kill his mother if he doesn鈥檛 retreat. Nevertheless, Christina urges Gustav to attack. Norby didn鈥檛 expect the situation to turn out this way.

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Gustav becomes distressed and hesitates; he doesn鈥檛 know what to do. If he attacks, his mother will die, but if he retreats, he will lose the whole kingdom. Gustav asks his soldiers for advice, and they tell him that they are willing to sacrifice everything for Sweden. Gustav sends Norby back to tell Christian, that he is ready to fight to the death. He asks Christina to say goodbye to his mother on his behalf.

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After being left alone Gustav curses Christian鈥檚 cruelness and calls for heavenly forces to destroy him. Finally he falls asleep.

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The Guardian Angel of Sweden emerges. She calls for loving spirits to give Gustav a blissful and restorative sleep.

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The spirits sing and dance to Gustav, who is asleep. Victory emerges is his sleep, followed by Fame, that crowns Gustav with laurels. Fame is followed by Honour, that hands Gustav a crown and a sceptre. Finally Love arrives, guides Gustav to his mother, and together they meet Immortality carries a picture of Gustav Vasa high up in the air.

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The Guardian Angel announces that Gustav Vasa will rule Sweden. The Angel asks Cecilia to give her son a palm as a sign of enforcing this task and saving the country.

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ACT III

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Cecilia lies alone in the prison. She prays for her son to have the strength to stay put in his decision. She is not afraid to die. She even thinks this will be a blessing to him.

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Christina returns and tells about her visit in Gustav鈥檚 camp. Gustav has decided to stick to his attack plan.

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Cecilia praises her son. Norby arrives to take Christina to Christian. She is supposed to be taken on a ship, to a visible spot, to prevent the attack.

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Christian has had a nightmare. The Furies have robbed him of his crown and sceptre. Victims of the Stockholm Bloodbath, Gustav鈥檚 father Erik Johansson Vasa, Sten Sture and Joakim Brahe, appear one after another. After coming to his senses, Christian swears to have victory over Gustav.

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Norby arrives. He recounts that the Swedes are at the gates of the Palace and tries to convince Christian to release Gustav鈥檚 mother, to try to stop the attack. Christian has no intention of giving up his hostage. He wants to see Swedish blood. Norby and Christian fall out. Christian threatens Norby with violence. Norby thinks Christian should rather worry about violence imposed by the Swedes. Christian says he has reserved a dagger for both of them. Then trumpets call out for battle.

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Attack! Gustav Vasa and his troops are at the walls of the castle. Occupation. Cecilia and Gustav meet. Christina and Margareta are safe. Norby joins the Swedish troops. Christian flees down into the depths of the Helsinki Music Centre and returns to Denmark.

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