The Vanishing Bridgegroom (1992)

The opera is composed of three interconnected stories, each featuring a vanishing bridegroom. Together, these tales weave a narrative about a single marriage.

The Inheritance
A man passes away, leaving behind a missing legacy. Suspicion falls upon his three sons. To uncover the truth, an old friend, the Doctor, recounts a parable:
A woman, forbidden to marry her lover, is forced into a loveless marriage with a wealthy man. When the wealthy man discovers her affair, he sends her back to her lover. However, the lover, upon learning of her marriage, sends her back to her husband. During her journey, she is robbed, but a kind-hearted thief returns her belongings.

The Doctor asks the three sons to identify the most admirable character in the tale. The eldest chooses the wealthy husband, the middle son the forbidden lover, and the youngest the thief. It is the youngest son who has stolen the inheritance.

The Disappearance
This story follows the Bride and Bridegroom from the previous tale. After the birth of their daughter, the husband leaves to fetch a priest for the christening. En route, he is lured away to a mystical realm. His friend, accused of murder, watches for his return. Years later, the husband reappears, unchanged by time, having spent his years in a fairy realm. He is shocked to find his daughter grown up.

The Stranger
A handsome stranger arrives and woos the grown-up daughter. Her parents encourage her to accept his proposal, but she is suspicious of his odd behavior. A passing preacher reveals the stranger’s true identity: the Devil, seeking to claim her soul. Guided by the preacher, the young woman stands on sacred ground, protected from the Devil’s temptations.