SYNOPSIS

The action takes place at Vanessa’s country house in a northern country‚ the year about 1905.

CD 1

Act One

In their richly appointed drawing room‚ Vanessa‚ her mother the Baroness‚ and her niece Erika await the arrival of a guest. Erika orders an elaborate menu while Vanessa‚ greatly agitated‚ expresses concern over the safety of her guest‚ Anatol‚ who might be lost in the snow storm. Erika tries reading aloud to divert her aunt’s thoughts‚ but this only further upsets Vanessa. The old Baroness leaves the room in silence‚ a silence she has maintained in her daughter’s presence for many years. [4] When the tower bell announces Anatol’s safe arrival‚ Vanessa bids Erika allow her to meet him alone; for more than twenty years she has awaited this reunion. [5] When Vanessa sees his figure silhouetted in the doorway‚ she tells him how long she has waited and asks him if he still loves her. [6] After he answers that he believes he will love her‚ Vanessa turns to him and sees it is not the person she was expecting. Rushing in at her aunt’s cry‚ Erika helps Vanessa from the room and quickly returns to confront the handsome impostor. [7] He reveals that he‚ too‚ is Anatol – the son of Vanessa’s now-dead lover. The girl berates him for not writing this to Vanessa and asks him to leave the house at once. He tells her he has come a great distance to see Vanessa‚ of whom he has heard so much‚ and asks to spend the night. Undecided‚ Erika sits down with him to supper.

Act Two

[8] Since their dramatic meeting a month ago‚ Anatol and Vanessa have become close friends. They are out skating when Erika reveals to the Baroness that she allowed Anatol to seduce her on the night of his arrival. Although he says he will marry her‚ Erika feels he is only offering her a shallow‚ temporary form of love; and at the risk of losing her honor‚ she believes she has “the right to wait for her true love to come.” Radiant‚ Vanessa and Anatol enter. [9] While they remove their skating togs‚ the Doctor arrives. Vanessa announces that she plans a ball similar to those given when she was a girl. When they are left alone‚ Vanessa tells Erika of a growing love between herself and the younger man. Shocked‚ Erika seeks Anatol and demands the truth. Evasively‚ he offers her his hand and his affection; he cannot understand her insistence upon eternal love‚ which he is unable to promise. Erika bitterly comes to realize the truth of the old Baroness’ words: “He is the man of today; he only sees what is offered him; he will choose what is easier.” She remains behind as the others depart for chapel. She decides that she will not be like Vanessa‚ who is willing to accept another after waiting so long for her beloved. “Let Vanessa have you!” she exclaims in a rebellious cry. “Let Vanessa have you‚ she who for so little had to wait so long.”

CD 2

Act Three

[1] From the entrance hall of the castle one can partly see the New Year’s Eve celebration that is taking place in Vanessa’s ballroom. [2] The Doctor‚ slightly drunk‚ stumbles in‚ muttering about an important announcement that will be made. Vanessa‚ vexed that her mother and niece will not come downstairs for the party‚ begs the Doctor to ask them to come down. [4] Anatol enters and assures her that all will be well. They pledge their love and rejoin their guests in the ballroom. Erika‚ weak and pale‚ appears at the head of the stairs when the Doctor‚ from within‚ is announcing the engagement of Vanessa and Anatol. She falls in a faint as the guests toast the couple. Regaining consciousness‚ murmuring that his child will not be born‚ she stumbles out into the snowy night. In a short while‚ the old Baroness comes down to look for her; going to the open door‚ she realizes what has happened.

Act Four

Scene 1
[6] In Erika’s bedroom Vanessa paces the floor; she cannot imagine what forced Erika to act so desperately. A group of men‚ headed by Anatol‚ is seen carrying the unconscious girl to the castle. She is brought into the room and placed on a bed in the alcove. The Doctor assures Vanessa that she will recover. While he attends her‚ Vanessa asks Anatol if Erika’s attempted suicide was because of him. Anatol answers that she does not love him. Erika‚ regaining consciousness‚ asks to be left alone with her grandmother‚ who assures her that no one suspects the reason for her action. [11] Erika tells her that the child will not be born. In silence‚ the old woman turns from the girl and leaves the room.

Scene 2
[12] Now married‚ Vanessa and Anatol prepare to leave the castle for Paris and their new life together. Erika‚ recovered but still weak‚ has refused to tell Vanessa her true reason for attempting suicide. When Vanessa confides to her that she has left the estate to her and begs a final explanation‚ Erika replies that it was a foolish act‚ one which marked the end of her youth. She swears that it was not because of Anatol; she does not want to mar Vanessa’s illusion of happiness. She is resolved‚ then‚ to remain secluded here to care for her grandmother. While watching the happy couple drive away‚ Erika orders all mirrors and pictures draped and all gates locked. Sitting opposite her silent grandmother‚ Erika knows that it is now her turn to wait.