7. Recitative: “Nun, folge, was dein Vater spricht”

Here, Schlendrian plays his trump card: marriage. He threatens to deny Lieschen a husband if she doesn’t give up the dreadful beverage; she relents, vowing never to drink another drop. Professor Greenberg thinks that Lieschen planed it this way all along: that Schlendrian had denied Lieschen a husband in the past and now finally relents in order to get Lieschen off the coffee.

8. Aria “Heute noch”

A joyous, sensual number, with an invigorating harpsichord and string accompanament; Lieschen sings longingly of a husband, encouraging her father to get her one now. With luck, she has “traded coffee for a lover.” Again to quote Professor Greenberg, “I think there’s something a little more than...oh...platonic in Lizzie’s voice.”