United States or El Salvador ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He was present at the trial of Alfred Dreyfus in December, 1894. He witnessed the degradation of Dreyfus and heard the cries of "Down with the Jews" in the streets of Paris. He read Edouard Drumont's anti-Semitic journal "La France Juive" and said, "I have to thank Drumont for much of the freedom of my present conception of the Jewish problem."
I had taken a great fancy to him from the time of his La Juive, and had a very high opinion of his masterly talent. At the request of Schlesinger I also willingly consented to write for his paper a long article on Halevy's latest work.
Halévy answered his detractors by giving the world a delightful comic opera, "L'Éclair," which at once testified to the genuineness of his musical inspiration and the versatility of his powers, and was received by the public with even more pleasure than "La Juive." A somewhat singular fact occurred during the performance of this opera. One of the singers, every time he came to the passage,
Unperformed as he was, Berlioz of course could not be expected to found a school; but Meyerbeer's success soon raised him up a host of imitators. In turn Halévy reacted upon Meyerbeer. Many passages in 'Les Huguenots' reflect the sober dignity of 'La Juive'; indeed, it is too often forgotten that the production of Halévy's opera preceded its more famous contemporary by a full year.
Here and there scattered through his works, notably so in "La Juive," are touches of emotion and grandeur; but Halévy must be characterized as a composer who is rather distinguished for the brilliancy, vigor, and completeness of his art than for the higher creative power, which belongs in such preeminent degree to men like Rossini and Weber, or even to Auber, Meyerbeer, and Gounod.
There was the usual crush, the glitter and confusing radiance of the brilliant audience. Annette, with papa, Aunt Nina, and Philip, was late reaching her box. The curtain was up, and "La Juive" was pouring forth defiance at her angry persecutors. Annette listened breathlessly. In fancy, she too was ringing her voice out to an applauding house.
She Englees yis I remembers. A ver' fine and big demoiselle. She wish to come out at de opera. But she too large mooch too large. Englees yis La Juive." "A Jewess?" cried Jennings in his turn. "I swear to you, mon ami. Englees Jewess, mais oui! For ten months she dance here, tree year gone. Zen zee orange peels and pouf! I see her no mores. But never dance no too large, une grande demoiselle."
Madame Dubeau was La Juive to his Eleazar, Leonore to his Manfred, Elsa to his Lohengrin, Aida to his Rhadames, Marguerite to his Faust; in brief, Madame Dubeau was his opposite. She caressed him as Mignon, pleaded with him as Michaela, died for him in "Les Huguenots," broke her heart for love of him in "La Favorite." How could he help but love her, Annette asked herself, how could he?
"Found out about what?" asked Moncharmin, who had never been so much amused in his life. "About the ghost, of course! ... Look here ..." She suddenly calmed herself, feeling that this was a solemn moment in her life: "LOOK HERE," she repeated. "They were playing La Juive.
Only to-day I sent her a magnolia leaf, upon which was written, 'Je vous aime, ma belle Juive. Helen said she smiled as she took it and said, 'Thank him, if you please. That was favorable, I think. Yes I consider myself a lucky fellow. "June 1. I am all out of sorts to-night. Things have not gone smoothly at the Citadel to-day. I was again reprimanded by that old bald-headed Brown.
Word Of The Day