Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-03

lALAA VI LhhnAO-NAuhA 6hNAlA
Gbioni- susini Italian Opera Troupe make
their second appearance in this city this sea-
son, tonight, in Brainard's Hall. Our
music-loving PHblic are already knowing to
the fact, and have testified in advance their
appreciation of the high merits of this com
pany, by taking nearly every seat in the
hall.
The opera selected for this evening is
Verdi's grand masterpiece, "Ernani." For
the benefit of our readers we condense the
plot of the opera:
John, of Arragon,son ofthe Duke OfSegovia,
being prescribed, and pursued by the ennis
saries Of the King of CASTLE, takes refuge in
the Businesses of the Sierras, where he be-
comes leader Of a large band of rebel noun
taineers, and changes his name to Ernani.
The young outlaw was attached TO Donna
Elvira, who returns his love with ardent af-
lection. The King of CASTLE, Don Carlos,
has also become violently enamored of
his beautiful subject, Elvira. He watches
her windows, and discovers that when all
are at rest in the castle of her uncle, a
young cavalier (Ernani) gains admission to
her apartments. He initiates the signal of
the favored lover, gets admission to her
chamber, declares his passion, and is about
to drag her of with him by force, when
Ernani enters. A violent contention arises,
which brings TO the rescue Don Ruy Gomez.
To allay his jealousy and anger the King
reveals himself, and pretends he came in
disguise to consult Gomez. The king and
Ernani retire unmolested.
Elvira loses sight Of the rObber chieftain.
She believes at length in the rurlor that he
had persisted, and finally consents to marry
her relative, Don Silva. On the evening
before the marriage, Ernani, holly pursued
by a detachment of the Kings troops, in
| command of the King himsalf flies for ref
uge, in the disguise OF d pilgrim, to Don
Silvs's castle. Elvira enters, and Ernani
perceives by her bridal attire that her nup-
tials with the Don were to be celebrated on
the morrow. In a fit of passion, he p1ucks
eff his disguise, reveals himself to Silva, and
asks to be given up the the King. Silva
leaving the apartment, the lovers meet. The
Don returning, finds them clasped in fond
embrace! But as the King was already be-
fore the gates, he smOthered his wrath, or
dered the admittance of the King and suite,
dismissed Elvirs, and hid Ernani in secret
cabinet. The King demanded the latter.
Silva refused to give him up, as he was his
guest. Carlos turned his anger against Silva.
Yielding, the King pardoned Silva, but took
Elvira with him as security for the loyalty
of her uncle. After the King had departed
Silva released his guest and babe him to
cross swords with him.. This Ernani refused,
since his host had but Just protected his life
at the danger of his own Handing him his
hunting horn, he avows himself ready to
die whenever the signal should be given
from the lip of Silva.
Silva then set a conspiracy on foot against
the King of CASTLE, who was suspected Of
entertaining designs on the throne of Spain,
then Just vacated. A meeting of the con-
spirators was appointed in the Cathedral Of
Grenada, at the dead of night. Here it was
resolved to murder the King. 1t was de-
cided by ballot who should be tho instru-
ment Of the dark league. Ernani's name
was drawn.
The King of CASTLE, who had received in
formation Of the place and time Of the meet
ing, had been an unobserved witness of this
scene, hid in the tomb of Charlemagne.
While the conspirators doomed him to death
he was elected to the throne of Spain. The
voice of cannon outside told him of his
election. Then he showed himself to the
awed eonspirators, who imagined they saw
Charlemagne rising against them. At the
same moment the doors opened, and the
electors of the empire entered to pay hom-
age to Charles the Fifth. The Emperor
then commenced his reign with an act of
grace. He pardoned the conspirators, re-
stored to Ernani his ancestral titles and pos
sessions, and united him to Elvira.
But Silva waited till Ernani and Elvira
were about to retire TO the nuptial chamber,
then sounded the fatal horn, and arrested
the unhappy bridegroom on the threshold
Of happiness. Ernani, too chiyalrous to
evade his promise, stabbed himself in pres
ence of his mistress, who fell PROSTATE upou
the ~lifeless body of her husband.