Full Synopsis

Full Synopsis

Prologue

Frankfurt, 1770. We meet Prince William and the richly-dressed ensemble in the palace. Their minuet invites us into their world of wealth and glamour, but Prince William admits that all is not what it seems ("Pleasure and Privilege").

Act One

We arrive at the gates of the Jewish ghetto, where the Town Crier is announcing curfew ("Hear Ye, Hear Ye"). Mayer Rothschild, dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, is stopped at the gates. The guard searches Mayer, humiliates him and then taxes him ten Kronen for entering the ghetto. Although Mayer accepts this behavior toward him, he is confident that he will soon rise above it.

Mayer enters his shop to find that Gutele, his betrothed, has fallen asleep while waiting for his return. After being in Hanover for a year, Mayer notified Gutele that he was coming home yesterday. She longs to move to Hanover and build a life where they will have a bit more freedom. Mayer, however, foresees a greater chance at riches in Frankfurt. Gutele doesn't want money; she just wants to get married, something that may take up to five years, given Frankfurt's marriage quotas. She doesn't need more money; she has very simple needs ("One Room"). Mayer, on the other hand, wants to give her and their future children everything, which he plans to do by reopening his shop and selling the rare coins that he bought with his savings in Hanover at the Frankfurt Fair.

At the Fair, we find Mayer selling his coins, along with the other peddlers ("He Tossed a Coin"). His quick wit and ability to spin a tale allow him to make quick and prosperous sales that attract the attention of Prince William. Mayer charms the Prince into giving him a marriage license and simultaneously befriends the Prince's assistant, Budurus. Budurus admits that, although he works for the Prince, he is very low on the financial ladder, because he cannot deal with the Prince's bankers. Mayer offers his financial knowledge to Budurus in exchange for a formal introduction to Prince William.

In Prince William's study, the Prince is completely frustrated by the performance of his Bankers. Mayer enters and wins the disgruntled Prince's affection. The Prince purchases a coin from Mayer and exits, leaving Mayer alone with the Bankers. Mayer negotiates a court job with the Bankers. After they exit, Budurus reminds Mayer that, because he arranged to get him into the palace, he gets a share of all of Mayer's future business with the Prince. Mayer agrees. He plans to build an empire of princes – his sons, who are born, one by one, as Mayer expounds on the value of having them ("Sons").

The expansion of the Rothschilds family leads us directly to Mayer's prosperous shop, years later, where we meet his boys – Amshel, Solomon, Nathan and Jacob – as he teaches them about dealing with the customers ("Rothschild's Aim"). All four have talents to contribute to the family business. A beggar comes into the store, and Nathan sells him an old coat. Solomon thinks that Nathan should just give the man the coat, as Nathan insists that this preserves the man's dignity. As Mayer comes in to settle their disagreement, Gutele enters with the fifth son, Kalman, in her arms and announces that the peasants have broken into the ghetto to cause damage to the homes and businesses of the Jews. In a well-planned routine, the entire family hides everything in the store and takes a place beneath a trap door to wait out the pogrom.

When they emerge from the cellar, it is sixteen years later, after yet another pogrom. Mayer calls his sons, now in their young manhood, to help him with the damage. The young men discuss their role at the bottom of the social ladder and their lack of future prospects. Gutele, overhearing their conversation, tries to get them to accept their station in life. But, like their father, the boys want more than what the ghetto affords them ("Everything").

With Napoleon Bonaparte threatening everyone in Europe, Prince William's uncle, the King of Denmark, asks for a loan. Prince William dismisses his bankers. However, once they've left, he confides in Budurus that he needs new bankers to handle the loan and make it seem as if it does not come from him. Budurus presents Mayer and his sons as the bankers that the Prince needs. At first, the Prince is skeptical and rejects the offer, but the sons are shrewd and charming and manage to convince him. The Rothschild sons will act as the Prince's Superior Court Agents in Denmark. Mayer and his sons celebrate; Mayer's dream has come true ("Rothschild and Sons").

Unfortunately, just after Mayer and his sons leave for Denmark, Napoleon Bonaparte invades Hesse. In a great flourish of military strength, Napoleon's Grenadiers enter with Napoleon's Minister of Police, Fouche, who announces that Hesse is under French jurisdiction ("Allons").

Mayer and the boys return to Frankfurt from Denmark to find Budurus hiding out in Mayer's shop with Gutele ("Rothschild and Sons – Reprise"). Prince William has fled to Prague, and all financial dealings with Denmark have been made without the money to back them up. Refusing to accept that his successes in Denmark have no support from the fallen Prince, Mayer helps Budurus escape from Frankfurt and begins to plan how his sons will continue to collect on the Prince's debts in Europe. As the boys dream of their new adventures outside of the walls of the ghetto, Gutele tries to convince Mayer that what he is asking of his sons is too dangerous. Mayer sends the boys on their separate missions; Solomon to Vienna, Amshel to Prussia, Jacob to Prague, Kalman to Hamburg and Nathan to London. Gutele says goodbye to her sons, hoping that Mayer is making the right decision, but he is not worried ("Sons – Reprise").

Act Two

The Broker-Bankers of England, a very exclusive lot, begin their business day with a hymn that is led by the Chancellor of His Majesty's Exchequer, John Herries ("Give England Strength"). As the Broker-Bankers discuss the rocky financial situation of England, while France threatens war, Nathan wanders among them listening to every interaction so that he can quickly learn the business of investments. The Broker-Bankers deliberately set Nathan up to go against his father's advice and make a bad investment. Nathan immediately learns of his mistake and writes to his father and mother. Mayer responds that his brothers will send him information from all over Europe, by special messenger, about how to invest the family's money ("Messenger Ballet"). Gutele, not wanting a normal life to be replaced by his financial dealings, slyly adds to Mayer's letter that his brothers are all engaged and wonders when Nathan will do the same. The brothers' advice leads to lucrative investments, and Nathan quickly advances to become one of the wealthiest men in England.

Inside the Royal Stock Exchange, Nathan is regarded as a man of power ("They Say"). Nathan soon receives word from Mayer that the crisis in Europe will cause panic on the market and that he should sell his stocks to purchase gold. This decision allows him to maintain his wealth while others lose everything. Gutele again encourages him to marry. Nathan invites his parents to leave the ghetto and live with him, but Mayer says that he will only leave the ghetto when there is no ghetto. Enter Hannah Cohen, a strong-willed woman who introduces herself to Nathan as she requests donations to her favorite charities. Nathan likes her forthright nature and, in an instant, he decides that this is the woman of his dreams. Hannah is not so easily won over.

In his next letter to Mayer and Gutele, Nathan tells his parents the good news ("I'm in Love! I'm in Love!"). He admits that she doesn't feel the same, but Mayer assures him that he has sold to customers who were not interested before. Nathan pursues Hannah. They argue over Nathan's worldview, which Hannah perceives as being selfish and without scruples. At that moment, Herries, who has been searching all of London for Nathan, finds him with Hannah and begs him to make a loan to England that will allow the country to win the war against France. Nathan negotiates with Herries by offering the money at a low interest rate if Herries can convince the Grand Alliance to lift restrictions against the Jews in Germany and Austria. Hannah, after seeing Nathan's act of compassion toward millions of people living under oppression, agrees to marry him ("I'm in Love! I'm in Love! – Reprise"). Nathan immediately writes to his parents of the plan for the loan to England and of his marriage. Mayer is not pleased about the loan and tells Nathan to do nothing until he hears from his brothers. Mayer advises the brothers to gather at the court of Prince Metternich, who leads the Crown Heads of Europe. At the meeting, Prince Metternich agrees to their conditions for repayment and to lift the restrictions against their people. It seems that Rothschild and Sons have negotiated a deal that will benefit millions.

Back in the ghetto, Gutele tries to get Mayer to obey his doctor's orders for rest. Mayer, energized by the possibility of the end of war and oppression, declares that he will see the signing of a document to break down the ghetto walls, in person ("In My Own Lifetime"). The Crowned Heads of Europe, meanwhile, are gathered in a ballroom at Aix-La-Chappelle to celebrate the newfound peace. Prince Metternich descends from the podium remarking on the fineness of the conference ("Have You Ever Seen a Prettier Little Congress"). He speaks on the benefits of maintaining the status quo from before the war ("Stability").

Nathan and Mayer enter and introduce themselves. They question the Prince about the Declaration of Rights for European Jews, but he dismisses them – he has no intention of keeping his promise, now that the war is over. Nathan and Mayer try to argue their point but quickly learn that they are still considered too low in society to have a true voice, even though it was their personal fortune that ended the war. After he convinces Nathan and Mayer that it is in their best interest to leave, Prince Metternich leads the ensemble in a menacing declaration that the rich will never be in a position of vulnerability again ("Have You Ever Seen a Prettier Little Congress – Reprise").

Mayer, defeated by the interaction with Prince Metternich, is now in very ill health. He drafts his will and sends copies to all of his sons. In it, he instructs them about the benefits and pitfalls of wealth but, above all, to honor their God and family. By the time his sons receive his instructions, Mayer is dead. The family gathers in the ghetto, and a heated discussion ensues. Nathan wants to use their remaining wealth to undermine a bond-selling plan created by Prince Metternich, avenging an insult to their family and possibly bringing more prosperity. The other brothers know that Nathan's plan has the potential to fail, leaving the family destitute. In a surprising turn of events, Gutele supports Nathan's plan. She admits that she, like her sons, now wants everything.

In the Ballroom of Aix-La-Chappelle, with the ghetto in the background, Prince Metternich is bullying the sales of his new peace bonds to the Crowned Heads of State. The Rothschilds enter and undercut the Prince's price. A bidding war is on, and it seems as though Nathan's risky investment will pay off ("Bonds").

Prince Metternich, realizing that he cannot compete with the Rothschilds, visits their home in the Frankfurt ghetto. Nathan quickly establishes that the Prince and he will deal with each other as equals, infuriating the Prince. Realizing that he has no choice but to bow to the demands of the Rothschilds, the Prince agrees to have the Crowned Heads of State sign the Declaration of Rights for European Jews and that the House of Rothschilds will handle all of the state bonds. The Prince invites the Rothschilds to accompany him to a dance at the palace, and as the sons accept the Prince's invitation to the dance, they also accept their new titles of Barons von Rothschild. In the final moments, Gutele reminds Nathan not to let the power go to his head, that he should never forget who he is and from where he comes. Nathan remarks that the world will never let him forget. With that, he rejoins his brothers as the Crowned Heads bow to them. They return the bow, as equals, as the curtain falls.