b'OPERAAlbert HerringSynopsisAct IAct II The scene is Loxford, a small market town midwayMay Day itself. Nancy and Sid are making last-between Ipswich and Aldeburgh, in East Suffolk. Oneminute preparations for high tea, while everyone of the more important persons of the district is Ladyelse is at the service in the Parish Church Billows, who combines an autocratic zeal for goodcelebrating Alberts coronation. Sid persuades works with a horror of immorality in all its formsbutNancy to help him in a practical joke: they fill all especially among the young and unmarried. This hasthe glasses with lemonade, and dose Alberts glass brought her to the notion of reviving the May Daywith a stiff lacing of rum. Festival in Loxford. She appoints a small committeeMiss Wordsworth takes a final rehearsal of the to guide her in selecting a worthy girl for Mayode she has written for the occasion, until the Queen, offers 25 guineas as the premium on virtue,guests begin arrivingAlbert last of all, in a neat and sets Florence, her housekeeper, ferreting aroundbut ostentatiously clean white suit. Bouquets are for gossip about all likely candidates.presented, speeches made and applauded, the Alas, when the committee has its final meetingpurse of guineas delivered, and all join in a toast in April, the evidence against its nominees isto their May King. Albert takes a long swig from comprehensive and damning. To elect a local girlhis glass, demands more lemonade and becomes for her virtue would shirk the plain facts. None ofimmediately much brisker. The curtain falls with them is fit.everyone settling down to the food. The situation is saved by Mr. Budd. If there is noAct III Queen availablewhy not have a May King? Why not Albert Herring? His reputation is spotless: hisLater that evening Albert comes home in a state of shyness and his fear of girls are notorious. The Vicarconsiderable exhilaration. Mum is visiting her sister, agrees: why should virtue be a prerogative of theand Albert can spread himself in memories of the female sex? Lady Billows grasps at the chance ofmagnificent feast: he is interrupted by Sid and Nancy snubbing the unforgivable Loxford girls, and theon their way for a walk. They stop to chat under whole committee sets off to break the news tothe lamp-post outside the shop, laugh at the quaint Albert and his mother.picture Albert made in his white suit, but soon forget him in their own flirtation, which Albert overhears The Herrings keep a greengrocers shop in Littlewith horrible fascination. When they have gone, Street, next door to the butchers. We see Alberthis excitement, embarrassment and indignation first on a normal workday morning, with Sid fromcombine in a wild desire for escape. He suddenly next door dropping in for a chat. They are joined bymakes up his mind to enjoy one nights freedom at Nancy, Sids latest girl, and the flirting between herleast and slips out into the night. Mum returns, locks and Sid discomforts Albert, who is glad to see theup and trudges wearily off to bed, thinking Albert is back of them. He is made still more uncomfortablein and asleep already. by the arrival of Florence, as forerunner to the whole committee, and objects strongly to their plan ofNext day the whole town is feverishly alarmed crowning him, but is overruled by Mum, who has aby the May Kings disappearance. Business stops, weather eye on the 25 guineas.the search spreads wider and wider round the 24 The Princeton Festival princetonsymphony.org/festival'