Act I

Bradamante, disguised as her brother Ricciardo, and Melisso, her former tutor and confidante, are shipwrecked along the shore of the witch Alcina’s island. With the help of a magic ring they intend to break the spell which binds Ruggiero, Bradamante’s betrothed, to Alcina, and to release her other captives, who have been variously transformed. Bradamante and Melisso are greeted by Alcina’s sister, Morgana, and they pretend to have lost their way. Morgana immediately falls in love at first sight with “Ricciardo” (Bradamante), although she is betrothed to Oronte, the commander of Alcina’s forces.

Morgana leads them to Alcina, who greets the strangers by inviting them to stay on her island. She leaves Ruggerio with them to tour the island. They are stopped by a boy, Oberto, who asks Melisso and Bradamante to help him to find his father, Astolfo. It is clear to them that Astolfo must have been changed into a wild beast, like so many others. Melisso and Bradamante, finding themselves alone with Ruggiero, try to confront him, but Ruggiero treats them with contempt. He longs only for Alcina’s return, and leaves them.

Oronte comes upon Bradamante and Melisso, having already discovered Morgana’s passion for “Ricciardo.” Incensed he challenges them. Morgana intercedes, spurning Oronte, and defending “Ricciardo.” Later, Oronte meets Ruggiero still looking for Alcina. He sews the seeds of jealousy, telling Ruggiero of Alcina’s treatment of her past lovers. When Ruggiero refuses to believe in her infidelity, Oronte instead lies to him that Alcina now loves “Ricciardo” instead of him. Mad with jealousy, Ruggiero confronts Alcina with this supposed love. Hurt, she strongly denies it and reaffirms her love for Ruggiero, in front of Bradamante. Seeing this Bradamante cannot resist revealing her identity to Ruggiero, though Melisso quickly denies it. Ruggiero chooses to believe Melisso, and assumes “Ricciardo” is trying to conceal “his” love for Alcina.

Morgana rushes in with the news that Alcina intends to prove her love to Ruggiero by turning “Ricciardo” into a wild beast. Morgana urges “him” to escape, but “Ricciardo” (Bradamante) tells her to go back to Alcina to say that “he” cannot love her, as “he” loves another. Morgana assumes “he” is referring to her, and Bradamante allows the deception. Morgana rejoices in “Ricciardo’s” love.

Ruggiero wanders the island lamenting Alcina’s absence, but he is confronted by Melisso, now disguised as his old tutor, Atlante. He reminds Ruggiero of his duty, and when Melisso puts the magic ring on his finger, the island is revealed as it really is, empty of all grandeur and beauty. Ruggiero immediately longs to see Bradamante and repair the damage caused by Alcina. Melisso tells him of the plans for escape. Ruggiero is to put on his armor, and pretending to long to hunt in the forest, make his escape with Melisso and Bradamante. Although he is now free of the enchantment, he doesn’t know what to believe. When he next sees Bradamante he cannot be sure that Alcina has not disguised herself as Bradamante to keep him in her power. Bradamante is in despair, and Ruggiero, left alone, fears for the consequences if, after all, he has again failed Bradamante. In a rage, Alcina is alone in her throne room preparing to cast the spell which will turn Bradamante into a wild beast. Morgana interrupts her, and she is followed by Ruggiero, who, without revealing that he no longer loves Alcina convinces her not to enact this spell to convince him of her love. He then persuades her, against her will, to let him go hunting. Oberto reappears, still lamenting his father’s disappearance. Alcina is amused, and offers him hope of reunion. Oronte brings news of the intentions of Ruggiero, Melisso and Bradamante to flee. Alcina laments her fate.

Act II

Oronte taunts Morgana with “Ricciardo’s” defection, but she refuses to believe him. Bradamante interrupts them with Oberto, who continues to search for his father. Ruggiero arrives and reunites with Bradamante. Morgana sees them in love and is outraged. She can’t believe “Ricciardo” is Bradamante and that Alcina has been betrayed by Ruggiero. Alcina attempts to summon her spirits to prevent Ruggiero leaving her, but instead she finds they don’t answer her command.

Morgana tries to regain the affections of Oronte, but as he swore to do earlier, he rebuffs her. Ruggiero and Alcina unexpectedly meet, and she demands to know why he is leaving her. When he tells her that he must return to his duty and his betrothed, she dismisses him and swears vengeance. Melisso, Bradamante, and Ruggiero prepare to rout Alcina’s forces, and Bradamante swears to leave the island only when all Alcina’s victims are released.

Alcina has cloistered herself in her palace, where Oronte informs her that her forces have indeed been defeated by the intruders. She longs for oblivion, but Oberto has snuck into her throne room to remind her of her promise to reunite him with his father. She maliciously brings a lion to Oberto, and orders him to kill it. He knows it must be his father and, refusing, threatens her instead. They are interrupted by Ruggiero and Bradamante who have come to destroy Alcina’s power. In an attempt to prevent them, Alcina forswears any evil intentions, claiming only desire for their happiness. She has lost all hope of being trusted, and Ruggiero shatters her enchanted cauldron. Alcina and Morgana are consumed by their broken magic, and the end of Alcina’s power causes her palace to be ruined and the island and those on it to transform back to their natural state.

-Grant Preisser

The University of Michigan is located on the territory of the Anishinaabe people. In 1817, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodewadami Nations made the largest single land transfer to the University of Michigan, ceded in the Treaty of Fort Meigs, so that their children could be educated. We acknowledge the history of native displacement that allowed the University of Michigan to be founded. Today we reaffirm contemporary and ancestral Anishinaabek ties to the land and their profound contributions to this institution.

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