Synopsis
- Overture
Prologue - The Tale Begins
In the Hungarian village of Nagyabony regulars gather at the tavern, to listen to the tales of the old soldier Háry János. With glass in hand they listen to his tales.
First Adventure - On the frontier near Moscow
A border crossing point; frost and ice on the Austrian side, sun shining on the Hungarian side. János and Örzse meet Mária Lujza the daughter of the Emperor Franz at the border crossing where she is not being allowed to cross. János pushes the border gate along the ground, so that she finds herself across the frontier; in gratitude the princess immediately rewards him with an offer to come to Vienna and enter the Imperial Guard. Örzse follows him.
Intermezzo
Second Adventure - In the Garden of Vienna Burg
Háry János enjoys the attentions of the princess and eventually becomes a general, to the fury of the envious the chamberlain Ebelasztin who then serves a declaration of war with Napoleon.
Third Adventure - A battlefield at Milan.
Háry János single-handedly wins the battle and has Napoleon kneeling for mercy. The emperor’s wife now wants to win his heart, to the consternation of Örzse.
Fourth Adventure – Vienna Burg.
The preparations for the wedding of Háry and the infatuated princess are underway. Örzse arrives to take leave of Háry but he is true to her and his homeland, so despite all the imperial trappings they leave the court.
Epilogue
Back at the inn in Nagyabony János concludes by saying that the condition of freeing Napoleon was that a gold watch should be sent to the headman of the village - who replies that he never got it. János states that the only person who can corroborate his story is Örzse – who is now dead.
Read more about this topic: Hary Janos