Aladin

Hardt-Warden, Bruno (G)

2(II=picc).2(II=corA).2(I=ebcl,II=bcl).2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:tgl(2)/tamb/SD/BD/cyms/tam-t-hp-cel-pft-strings

Poor Aladdin dreams of love – his thoughts yearningly circle around the beautiful Princess Laila, whom no one has ever seen unveiled outside of her chambers. Unconcernedly, Aladdin gives his last piece of money to a blind beggar. The powerful Grand Vizier Muluk is also obsessed by Laila’s fabled beauty – moreover, he is plotting sinister plans to oust Laila’s father and to become the Sultan of Samarkand himself.
The sound of trumpets and the shouts of the town criers announce the retinue of the princess, who is on the way to the hammam. Everyone must leave the street, for whoever catches a glimpse of the unveiled princess will die. The blind beggar asks to be allowed to stay, but the Grand Vizier has him driven away with merciless blows. Taking pity on him, Aladdin comes to the beggar’s defense.
In front of the hammam, Aladdin jumps out of his hiding place and casts himself at the feet of the princess. He is prepared to pay with his life for a glimpse at her heavenly beauty. As Laila and Aladdin exchange glances, they are stricken by love for one another. The palace guard appears immediately to lead Aladdin away. The blind beggar then turns to the Grand Vizier with a mysterious prophecy and the promise to make Muluk immeasurably rich and powerful: if he lets Aladdin free, the youngster will lead him to a subterranean treasure vault, where there burns a magic lamp that will fulfill all its owner’s wishes. Without much thought, Muluk has the prisoner set free. Impelled by the prospect of seeing the beautiful Laila again, Aladdin, followed by the Grand Vizier, enters, through a secret entrance, the mysterious grotto vault lit by the flickering glow of the magic lamp ...