The Story —
The story
Act 1 - a Scottish Manor House
It is the morning of James’s marriage to Effie and he sleeps in his armchair. The Sylph, a winged figure, is kneeling by his side. She kisses him on his forehead. James wakes and catches sight of the Sylph. He is instantly entranced and tries to capture her. The Sylph eludes his grasp and disappears up the chimney. Gurn, James’s rival, arrives and wakes his companions in order to decorate the house for the wedding celebrations.
The preparations for the wedding are in full swing. James hardly notices Effie and she is unimpressed by Gurn’s efforts to win her heart. As James reluctantly joins in the wedding preparations he starts to realise that as Effie dreams more and more of their marriage, his own dreams go far beyond the walls of the manor-house.
Meanwhile an old woman, Madge, has in secret slipped into the hall. She warms herself by the fire. James, sensing that she is a sinister presence, takes an immediate dislike to her. He orders her to leave but Effie calms him. Instead she persuades him to let Madge entertain the guests by telling their fortunes. Madge prophesies that Effie will marry Gurn, and James furiously threatens Madge. The old woman curses him. Effie runs off to dress for the wedding leaving James alone and in turmoil.
The Sylph once again appears. She declares her love for James and insists they belong together. Meanwhile, Gurn enters and witnesses the encounter. The Sylph vanishes again. Believing that he may have caught James with another woman, Gurn tries to reveal the situation to Effie, but fails.
The wedding festivities begin. The Sylph reappears and James is unable to resist her allure. He follows the Sylph into the forest, leaving Effie broken-hearted.
Act II - a glade in the forest
Deep in the forest, shrouded in mist, Madge plots her revenge on James. In a magic cauldron she makes a veil that is irresistible to all. As the fog lifts, the sylphs of the forest dance in joy. James enters with the Sylph, who shows him her realm. She brings him berries and water but still evades his embrace. To lift his spirits, she calls on her sisters and the forest fills with sylphs, who dance for him. But, try as he might, James is unable to catch the Sylph in his arms.
Effie and James’s companions reach the glade looking for him. Gurn finds James’s hat, but Madge convinces him to say nothing. He proposes to Effie and, encouraged by Madge, she accepts. Everyone leaves to prepare for the wedding of Effie and Gurn.
Meanwhile, James desperately looks for the Sylph. The spiteful Madge convinces him that the veil she has made will enable him to finally embrace her. The Sylph appears and is captivated by the sight of the veil. She allows James to place the garment around her shoulders and as he does so, he embraces her. The embrace is fatal. The Sylph falls to the ground. In despair James sees what should have been his own wedding party in the distance. As Madge forces him to see what he has lost, he realises that in trying to possess the unobtainable, he has lost everything. James collapses, and Madge rejoices above his lifeless body.