New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-05
The Opera of NIixnOn,

The plot of this charming opera of Am
broise Thomas, which has been produced
at the Opera House, may be briefly stated
tlus: Nignou is "a member CT a strolling
ban! OF gypsieS, and helps them earn their
living by street performances. She once
refuses to take part in one of the exhib-
tionS, and JainO. the chief man among the
Eohemians, threatens to beat her unless she
goes on with the show and is ouly pre-
vented from doing so by Wilhelm Mester, /,
handsome, wealthy young man, recently
from the university. now travelling for
pleasure, who happens along and interteres
with the cruelty of Jurao with chivalric
promptness. He subsequently carries his
generosity so far as to ransom the pretty
-Wgnon from the control OF JtuNo.
PhiIi"e is the gay and fascinating prnla
donna o. an opera troupe She is heart
less coYuette. and ca ger for fresh conquests
From her balcony she sees the gallant
H'Mtia in his rescue Of VigHon, and struck
| with his fine appearance makes the oppor-
tunity of forming his acquaintance, ant!
| proceeds to break his heart and spend lis
money. The opera troupe are engaged to
appear in a distant city. Phiine invites
Wilhelm to accompany them as poet This
he agrees to. bat is al loss to know what
disposition to make OF Mg,ton. She can
not bear the thought of leaving her bene
factor and ot.ers to dress as a boy and
serve her new master as d valet. tosUhich |
Wilhelm finally consents.
Jofdu,j0 iS old n, an vino l,S+
mind these many years, because of the dis
appearance of al only daughter when a girl !
of six years. He is kind TO -HignonA and |
forms an attachment for her that prompts
him to follow her wherever she goes
Hig,ton falls IN love with Wilhelm. and
grows intensely Jealous OF Phiiinc to whom
he seems devoted. AT one time she stands
in the garden and seeing Piiline and III
heinz in the house apparently happy iIreach
others company. She in a Jealous fury. ex-
presses the wish aLat the house might burn
down. Old Lothario who has wandered in
unobserved. hears this mad wish of Wguon.
and determines, N his crazy love for her
that she shall have that wish fulfilled and
goes away to execute it. In few minutes
the house is in flames and all is confusion.
Phiiine, HiU.iW and all rush into the gar
den. Nignon is Mortified at the turn mat
ters have taken. and with despair in her
heart she rushes into the flames. IViHeln.
learning that she was seen to enter the
burning house dashcs in and soon returns
bearing the rash Nignon in his arms-saved
To provide her home he buys her a
house. and establishes Lohario and Njgnon
therein as sole owners. The old man wan
derlng about this house finds to his JOY that
it is his old home. His mind begins to
strengthen. He discovers in a closet an old
prayerbooh. This ne gives to NiGnon to
read, telling her to open at particular
prayer. She DOES so, and begins it. Soon
she drops the book falls upon her knees,
and continues the prayer from memory. 1t
is the prayer OF her childhood taught her
by a mother long forgotten. She rises to
her feet in wild excitement; the past is rush
ing in upon her. She remembers her old ,
home, and at last runs into the gallery and
there sees what she hoped to sce-her
mothers picture. Returning. she tells of ..
il, and falls in the arms of her father, the s
kind Lotha'io, now fully himself again. {
WiNcm avows his love for Mignon. and
claims her as his bride, notwithstanding the ,
of Philine T
Upon this chaste and interesting story .. .
Thomas has woven an exquisite opera. The
music is sparkling, while at times it has a r
end"rncss and pathos that touches the |
,eart.
RACING SToch AT AUCTIoN.-Messrs i