Malo malo than a naughty boy

Opera in a prologue and two acts
Libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after a story by Henry James
First performed on September 14, 1954 in Venice

T. Carignano, Torino, 1995

Matthew Long, Miles
Hazel Norton Hale, Flora

Bruno Campanella, conductor
Luca Ronconi, production

Scene 6: The Lesson
Bustling music introduces Miles in the manor's schoolroom reciting Latin exercises with frequent
prompts from Flora. The Governess praises him and asks if he remembers any other rhymes. In
a hesitant voice he sings a curious verse, which he claims to have "found" somewhere:
Malo, Malo, Malo I would rather be
Malo, Malo in an apple tree,
Malo, Malo, Malo than a naughty boy
Malo, Malo in adversity.