Szibill

For other uses, see Sibyl (disambiguation).

Szibill is an operetta by Hungarian composer Victor Jacobi. The first performance was February 27, 1914, at the Király Színház (King's Theatre) in Budapest. The libretto was written by Ferenc Martos and Miksa Bródy. An English-language version, entitled Sybil, with lyrics by Harry Graham, premiered on January 10, 1916 at the Liberty Theatre in New York City.

Synopsis

Act 1

Szibill (or "Cybil") is a young French singer recently arrived in Tomsk. She meets Russian officier Petrov, who falls in love with her and deserts his regiment. He begs Szibill to run away with him back to Paris. However, a governor arrives to arrest Petrov. Szibill protests so strongly that the governor thinks she must be the wife of an earl, who is expected to arrive in the city that day. Szibill knows that the earl and his wife will not arrive until the evening and therefore she can deceive the governor until then.

Act 2

In the evening there is a ball at the governor's palace. The genuine earl arrives, but decides to play along with Szibill's deception and pretend that she is his wife. Szibill becomes very nervous and sends Petrov to find the real wife of the earl, who is at the Grand Hotel. She is very attracted to Petrov and agrees to impersonate the singer Szibill at the ball. The earl becomes jealous and tries to attack Petrov with his sabre. Fortunately Szibill stops him and everybody returns to the Grand Hotel.

Act 3

After more chaos and confusion at the Grand Hotel, all is revealed and forgiven and the operetta finishes happily.

Sources