last farewell of the home of her childhood
and of her early love, she recommends Marion to Andre's care. By this
time the poison has begun to take effect and the poor girl, thinking
that in the waving willow branches she sees the form of her lover,
beckoning to her, sighs "I come beloved" and sinks back dead.

LA JUIVE (THE JEWESS).

Grand Opera in five acts by HALEVY.

Text by EUGENE SCRIBE.

This opera created a great sensation when it first appeared on the
stage of the Grand Opera at Paris in the year 1835, and it has never
lost its attraction. It was one of the first grand operas to which
brilliant mise en scene, gorgeous decorations etc., added success.

Halevy's great talent lies in orchestration, which is here rich and
effective; his style, half French, half Italian, is full of beautiful
effects of a high order.

The libretto is one of the best which was ever written by the dexterous
and fertile Scribe.

The scene of action is laid in Constance, in the year 1414 during the
Council.

In the first act the opening of the Council is celebrated with great
pomp.

The Catholics, having gained a victory over the Hussites, Huss is to be
burnt, and the Jews, equally disliked, are oppressed and put down still
{162} more than before. All the shops are closed, only Eleazar, a rich
Jewish jeweller has kept his open, and is therefore about to be
imprisoned and put to death, when Cardinal de Brogni intervenes, and
saves the Jew and his daughter Recha from the people's fury. The
Cardinal has a secret liking for Eleazar, though he once banished him
from Rome. He hopes to gain news from him of his daughter, who was
lost in early childhood. But Eleazar hates the Cardinal bitterly.
When the mob is dispersed, Prince Leopold, the Imperial
Commander-in-Chief, approaches Recha. Under the assumed name of Samuel
he has gained her affections, and she begs him to be present at a
religious feast, which is to take place that evening at her father's
house. The act closes with a splendid procession of the Emperor and
all his dignitaries. Ruggiero, the chief judge in Constance seeing the
hated Jew and his daughter amongst the spectators, is about to seize
them once more, when Prince Leopold steps between and delivers them, to
Recha's great astonishment.

In the second act we are introduced to a great assembly of Jews, men
and women, assisting at a religious ceremony. Samuel is there with
them. The holy act is how