Szibill

"Szibill" is an operetta by Hungarian composer Victor Jacobi. The first performance was February 27, 1914, at the Király Színház theatre in Budapest. The libretto was written by Martos Ferenc and Miklós Bródy. An English language version, entitled Sybil, with lyrics by Harry Graham, premiered on January 10, 1916.

ynopsis

Act I.

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 II.

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 III.

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