Franz (Frantis`´ek) Drdla (1868-1944) goddess of love [1940]

Burlesque operetta in 3 acts by Bruno Hardt-Warden and Rudolf Köller German full eve

Zeus, father of the gods...... supporting part , god of the sea...... supporting part , fire god...... comedian , goddess of love...... soprano , goddess of discord...... comic supporting part , war god...... tenor , sun god...... comedian Dionys, wine god...... character comedian Ampelos, satyr...... drastic comedian Xylophon, a young poet...... buffo Lalage, his bride...... soubrette Methe, nymph, Aphrodite’s confidant...... dance soubrette , messenger god and god of trade...... youthful comedian Alkmene, Pipilipine, High Priest...... old comedienne, 2 supporting parts Gods, priestesses, satyrs, bacchantes, nymphs, choir of lovers 2.2.2.2 – 4.2.3.0 – timp. perc (tgl, cast, tamb, side dr, bass dr, cym, bells, tam-t, glsp, xyl, vibr). harp. cel. strings

In Aphrodite’s thicket, a host of festively made-up priestesses are dancing, worshipping the eternally young goddess of love. Disguised as an ordinary winegrower, Dionys is spying on the pretty, mortal Lalage. From his hiding place, he unexpectedly witnesses a conversation between Methe and Hermes, from which he gathers that Ares has an eye on the goddess of love and has met with the approval of the latter. The sneaky Dionys decides to inform Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband, by letter of his wife’s love life. His own efforts to win Lalage’s heart do not make much progress, for the girl is in love with the young poet Xylophon and does not acknowledge the glance of the lusty wine god. But Lalage has her own troubles with love, for her dear Xylophon is too shy to kiss her. For this reason, Lalage and Xylophon appear before the goddess, so as to be brought into the right mood for kissing through the goddess’s blessing. Hardly has the laying of hands begun to show its effect than an earthquake suddenly erupts, with fire and lava flowing from the nearby volcano. The angry Hephaestus approaches in order to catch the unfaithful Aphrodite and his adversary. In the caused by the unbridled forces of nature, Dionys seizes the opportunity and robs Lalage, who is calling for help … The feather-light plot unfolds in a free variation on the ancient material; there is no lack of slapstick gags, bikini-wearing nymphs or the sufficiently well-known golden net in which Ares and Aphrodite are make a laughing-stock, until finally all worldly and godly couples have been happily united.