The Synopsis
In Seville, a lively cantina is located across the street from the Convent of St Augustine. Captain Enrique Vargas, who has been in Africa for seven years, calls at the convent to see his sister Maria, who is a postulant. Their mother died while Enrique was away, leaving Maria Consuelo alone until she entered the convent.
Enrique looks forward to Maria Consuelo taking her vows. Maria Consuelo is about to say that she expected to go with him when he returned, but she is distracted by music from the cantina; she loves “the sweet, sweet songs that they sing in the world out there”. Enrique says she is better in the convent, away from the evil world. Maria Consuelo asks how the world can be evil with such music in it.
After Enrique leaves, a despondent Maria Consuelo goes into the garden to listen to the music. She is in ecstasy at the singing, and prays to the Virgin to let her know if Enrique is right about the world being evil. Then she prays for another song, which draws her to look over the convent wall. She sees Juan de Dios performing in the cantina [Just for Today]. Juan is joined on stage by Lola [dance].
Juan drinks with two young women while Lola stands jealously watching. Maria Consuelo is still watching at midnight, when Juan and Lola leave the cantina. Juan insults Lola, but she accepts it because she loves him. Lola believes nothing is important in life apart from having fun.
Juan lives with a music teacher, Giuseppe Esteban, who had discovered Juan blacking shoes and took him in because he thought he had talent. Esteban was once the greatest opera singer in Spain, but he squandered his talent and lost everything. He is trying to prevent Juan from doing the same, and wants to take him to Madrid, to introduce him to the impresarios he used to know. Juan promises to work harder and see Lola only once–or twice–a week.
At the market, Juan steals oranges and a mantilla and then hides in a courtyard, believing the police are after him. He finds Maria Consuelo, who has run away, putting on a dress. She recognizes Juan and tells him she would follow him anywhere to hear him sing and to hear people laughing. Maria Consuelo leaves payment for the dress.
Later, after giving Maria Consuelo the mantilla, Juan finds that she has nowhere to go and asks her to go home with him; she innocently accepts. He gives her his supper and she asks him to sing [Not Quite Good Enough for Me]. Maria Consuelo confesses that she used to watch Juan every night and that she ran away from the convent to find him. She tells him he has shown her that the world is not wicked. Lola arrives, but Juan manages to get rid of her without her seeing Maria.
Next morning, Juan hears that the police are looking everywhere for Maria. He persuades Esteban that they should all go to Madrid, with Maria Consuelo as their cook.
Lola goes to Enrique with Maria’s convent clothes, which she had found in Juan’s room. Enrique decides he will follow them to Madrid.
Later, in Madrid, Juan and Esteban continue with their singing lessons. Their landlady, La Rumbarita [Cavatina from L’Elisir d’Amore] accompanies them to the opera house, where Juan auditions for Esteban’s friend, the impresario Mischa [Questa o quella from Rigoletto]. Mischa is unimpressed, believing Juan to have “neither heart nor soul”. He says great singers must be capable of having their hearts broken. After Juan storms out, Esteban offers to pay Mischa to allow Juan to perform; it is to be their secret.
That evening, Juan takes out his anger on Maria Consuelo, criticizing her cooking. But he relents [Lonely] and tells her how much he loves her. The next morning they go to church and Juan asks the priest to arrange their marriage. Esteban tells Juan he is to sing at the opera that night.
Enrique waits for Juan in his room. He tells Juan that he has made a harlot of his sister and that he is taking her away. Lola enters and taunts Juan. Juan convinces Enrique that no harm has come to Maria Consuelo, but the brother is still determined to take her back to the convent. Juan is finally persuaded that he must give Maria Consuelo back to God.
When Maria Consuelo returns, Juan convinces her that he has reconciled with Lola. Believing that the world is as wicked as she was told, Maria Consuela returns to Seville with her brother. Esteban persuades Juan that he must still sing at the opera that evening. [Ah! fuyez, douce image from Manon]. The performance is a triumph and Mischa offers him a contract, but Juan is still heart-broken.
Juan does not leave his bed for many days and Lola sees that he is dying. Lola returns to Seville and sees that Maria Consuelo is also ill. Lola explains that Juan tricked Maria Consuelo because her brother persuaded him it was the best thing for her. Maria Consuelo returns to Madrid with Lola and is reunited with Juan.
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