MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY, THE

Composer: WALTER DamroscH Book adapted by the composer from Edward Everett Hale’s famous novel; done in verse by Arthur Gui term an First performance: Metropolitan Opera House, New York, May 12, 1937 2 acts (5 scenes). WHEN AARON Bora tried to form a new republic in the Southwest he drew into his conspiracy Philip Nolan. The opera opens on the island of Blennerha ett where the Ohio joins the Mi i ippi. Mary Rutledge is present at a party to which Philip Nolan comes to declare his love. When Burr and his party have left for Natchez (he fears arrest) Nolan lingers behind to say good-bye to Mary, and is captured by United States soldiers. Tried at Charleston he is sentenced to never see, or touch foot on, his native soil because, desperate after being plagued with so many questions, he screamed: ‘Damn, damn the United States! I never wish to hear the cursed name again.” Aboard the frigate Guerriére Nolan has spent months and years while Mary works for a pardon in Washington. She goes to Gibraltar and comes aboard his ship. He is overjoyed to see her, but asks her to leave since the frigate will shortly pursue pirates. He pleads to be allowed to fight with the Guerriére men against the pirates. Mary succeeds in getting the permi ion, and he dies after killing the Admiral of the enemy ships. Commodore Decatur drawing his own sword lays it in Nolan’s arms. x