Wuthering Heights 1958

Synopsis
Artists

Floyd’s gripping operatic adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel…

…explores the tumultuous love story of Catherine (Cathy) and Heathcliff and its devastating consequences on their lives and those around them.

Music and Libretto By

Carlisle Floyd

After the Novel By

Emily Brontë

Prologue

The story unfolds with the narrator, Nelly Dean, recounting the story of the Earnshaw and Linton families, highlighting their tragic relationship with Heathcliff.

Act I

Cathy and Heathcliff, childhood companions, fall in love. One day they are discovered spying on the house of a neighboring family, the Lintons. Cathy sprains her ankle and is forced to stay at the Lintons’ home for a month. During that time she acquires grand airs; when she returns home, accompanied by Edgar and Isabella Linton, she is embarrassed to find Heathcliff dirty and unkempt. Heathcliff is hurt and throws tea at Edgar. For that he is beaten by Cathy’s brother Hindley, and is later consoled by Cathy.

Act II

Cathy and Edgar become constant companions, and eventually are engaged. Yet Cathy still longs for Heathcliff, who has left Wuthering Heights.

Act III

Three years later, Heathcliff returns a wealthy man of the world. In a card game, Hindley loses his last possession – Wuthering Heights – to Heathcliff. Heathcliff also makes advances towards Cathy; she refuses him, so he decides to marry Isabella, who is in love with him. As a result, Cathy decides she wants to die, and finally dies in Heathcliff’s arms. Heathcliff asks the ghost of Cathy to haunt him forever.