THE MONK
Music by Steven Stanke. Libretto from the novel “The Monk” by Matthew Lewis (1796). Premiere: Rockdale Opera, Sydney, Australia 28 February 2026. Gothic horror. Vocal lines largely declamatory, some arias and aria-type passages, demanding vocal lines and stamina for Ambrosio and Matilda. Some dissonant accompaniment; short orchestral preludes between each scene for set change. No overture. Setting: Madrid, 1700s. Fourteen scenes. 90 minutes. One act (Can be split into two acts.)
Scene 1: The Church; Scenes 2-4 Ambrosio’s Room; Scenes 5-8 Matilda’s Room; Scene 9 The Church; Scenes 10-11 Leonella’s Room; Scene 12 Ambrosio’s Room; Scene 13 The Cemetery; Scene 14 Antonia’s Room
Synopsis. Ambrosio was left at an abbey in Madrid as a child and is now, at the age of thirty, a famously celebrated monk with a gift for powerful oration. Antonia, a naïve and virtuous young woman, and her aunt Leonella attend one of his sermons and Antonia is infatuated with the persuasive monk.
Ambrosio’s friend Rosario reveals to him in private that she is a woman called Matilda, who disguised herself to be near Ambrosio. While picking a flower for her, Ambrosio is bitten by a poisonous creature and falls deathly ill. Matilda nurses him back to full health. When Ambrosio recovers, she reveals that she had sucked the poison from his wound and is now dying herself. Matilda begs him to make love to her and he agrees reluctantly. After having sex with Ambrosio, Matilda performs a ritual in the cemetery which cures her of the poison. She and Ambrosio continue to be secret lovers, but Ambrosio grows tired of her.
Ambrosio meets Antonia and is immediately attracted to her. He visits her and her aunt, hoping to seduce Antonia. He misreads Antonia’s attraction to him as an invitation for physical love, but she rejects him. He leaves quickly when her aunt sees the altercation.
Matilda tells Ambrosio she can help him gain Antonia’s charms, the same way she was healed of the poison: witchcraft. Ambrosio is initially horrified, but when he sees, through Matilda’s magic mirror, an image of Antonia preparing to bathe, he is overcome with lust and agrees. Matilda and Ambrosio go to the cemetery, where Matilda calls upon Lucifer, who appears as a young and handsome man. He gives Matilda a magic branch of myrtle, which will allow Ambrosio to open any door and rape Antonia without her knowing.
The next evening, Ambrosio uses the magic branch to enter Antonia’s bedroom while she is asleep. He is on the point of raping her when Leonella arrives and confronts him. In panic, he moves to strangle her but collapses, horrified at the untamed beast he has become.
Major Roles. AMBROSIO (T), a monk: needs stamina, on stage for most of the opera. C2 to Bb3 (middle C is C3). ROSARIO/MATILDA (MS), a monk: needs stamina, some difficult non-tonal passages, on stage for most of the opera. A2 to Ab4.
Lesser roles. ANTONIA (S), a young villager; mostly recitative, one aria. D3 to Ab4. LEONELLA (S), Antonio’s aunt; dramatic closing scene. Eb3 to B4. FATHER PABLOS (BS or BAR), a monk. Bb1 to D3. THE DEMON (non-singing, non-speaking); youth, small scene. Other non-singing, non-speaking roles may be added: more monks and townsfolk in the church scenes. No chorus.
Orchestra. Fl, CA, Cl, Bsn, Hn, Timp/Perc (Sn Dr, Glock, Tri, Bs Dr, Tam-tam, Chimes, Sus Cym, Vib), Strings
Material Wirripang (Digital score – full and VS, orchestra parts), composer’s website (VS hard copy)