New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
"LE miracle"
A New Medieval Lyric Poem al
the Opera.
Paris, January 2

Paris, January
lie Miracle" the new opera In five
acts by NM. Gheusi and Mirarne, and
music by NJ Georges Hue. produced At
the Opera. is a work OF unusual interest.
II is sort Of compromise between the
modern lyric drama and the old classic
operatic methods OF Meyerbeer. II ls
somewhat as if an attempt were made to
reconcile Racine and NJ. Henry Bern.
stein.
The poem turns upon theme that
may have been suggested by Guy Dc
Maupassant's piquant story OF Mile
Fiji" We are In Burgundy at the close
OF the fifteenth century. when sensual
paganism OF the Renaissance raised ts
arrogant head in revolt against Chrs
tian ascetism OF the Middle Ages. IN.
fortified town-is II Dion ?--is at N.
mercy Of a besleging army OF Ttaliaa
condottieri. We learn from conyersa.
tion between a night watchman and an
armored reiter that the general Of the
having passed the evening at the villa
Of the Burgundian courtesan, AlIx, who
like Guy de Maupassant's Mile. Fh
has sacrificed herself for tho cause Of
her native townfolk. II Is another ver-
sion OF the immolation OF Judith for
Holophernes, OF Salammbo for Matho, Of
Monna Wanna for Prinzivalle and Of
Mile. Fif for the red-haired officer OF
Prussian UhIans. Such is the truth.
But the Inhabitants believe that the SAL
vation Of their town is due to the inter-
vention Of st, Agnes. their patron saint.
The archbishop and the notables de.
eide to commemorate the event By erect
ing over the cathedral door a statue OF
St. Agnes. The work is intrusted TO the
sculptor Logs The courtesan Alix sp-
pears on her balcony, opposite the
church, and claims the honor OF being
the real liberator OF the town. She is in
suited and driven away by the populace.
Alix dismisses her lover Gau her d'Ar-
court, a captain OF the Dijon Guards. and
forms an attachment with the young
sculptor Loys. who is overcome by her
charms During an effective scene In
the cloister OF the cathedral, transformed
into a studio, Alix urges Logs TO per-
petuate her beauty and her act OF patri-
otic self sacrifice by making a statue OF
herself instead Of ST. Agnes. The
sculptor. under the influence OF profans
infatuation, complies with her request
The day for unveiling the statue ar
rives. The white marble statue OF Alix.
in radiant nudity, is disclosed 10 the peo-
pie. The crowd shout with fury at the
PROCLAMATION Of their saint. The arch
bishop and the clergy pronounce an
anathema. Soldiers with great difficulty
prevent the mob from tearing the sculp-
tor and courtesan to pieces. The arch
bishop orders the statue to be destroyed.
Alix is arrested and sentenced 10 death.
Lows. accommodated. has TO remain IN
hiding. Alix can save her lover II she
consents to break the sacrilegious statue.
After some hesitation she consents. The
clergy and the public are assembled
Alix is provided with mace surmounted
with an iron cross. She advances. and
Just as she stands with uplifted weapon
about to strike the statue. which Is the
personification OF her soul and her life.
a vivid fash Of lightning Is emitted.
Alix falls dead. The veil falls from the
statue, which, TO the amazement Of all,
has been transformed into the chaste
figure OF St. Agnes This is "The Mir
acle."
The music OF this medieval lyric poem
is suggestive OF Wagner's "Rienzi"
There are outbursts of brass and wood
In heroic measure. There is. neverthe-
less, a trace of Debussy in the suave
love duet in the second act, enveloped In
the voluptuous caresses OF flutes and
harps. This is. perhaps. the finest
passage in the score. There is pleas
ing and highly picturesque medieval bal
let. The chorus music is powerful-sl.
most too powerful Mile. Chenal OBJ
tained a decided personal success In the
part Of Alix. Z. ]. D.