New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
la LEPREUSE'
H. BataiIIe's MEDIEVAL Tragic
Legend" at Opera Comique.

IVyOi'u at OpOi q
Paris. February o.
la Lepreuse," the new opera pro.sA.
out at the Opera Comique, is oes'f'O01
as Legendary tragedy" baseu "por
the poem Of Henry Bataille, with inos'o
by Sylvio Lazzari. 1t is deepiS i
pressive, profoundly humanitarian "o'A'
and is a wonderful and realistic eVoc"-
ton Of Brittany of the Middle Ages
Ervoanik, a young Breton FARMER
wishes to marry the young and peauti-
full girl Aliette, only child Of TIL, an oio
sorceress. Ervoanik's parents oppose
tho marriage. And no wonder. Aliette'
Notwithstanding her fresh compie"ion'
her sprightly grace and charm 10 'ne
daughter of a '1eperess," and is hersen
tainted with the terrible malay. le'
kiss would communicate to Ervoanlk the
"white pest" Ervoanik, In a wnd' oe-
spondent song, persuades his parents 70
leave him alone with the girl ne loves
and promises to bid her supreme rare
well. The scene between the two lovers
is delightful and pathetic They agree
to 90 together to the Pardon Of FolgoaI
Ervoanik puts his arms around Ahette
and seeks to kiss her. But the GIRL coh-
scious Of the fatality OF her oirtn' re-
fuses the proffered kiss, and as 'ne
church bells slowly ring a sorrowtui
chime, the lovers, hand in hand and WIN
bare feet, proceed on their pilgrimage
The second act discloses the house OF
the sorceress Till, Aliette's mother, wnlcn
is painted white, and surrounded WIN
white stones to indicate that the place
is contaminated with leprosy. THIS
house is a halfway station on the road
TO the pilgrimage. Boys Of the neighbor-
hood throw stones at the windows and
mass by with horror, because the old
sorceress is hated throughout the region
and has enticed. children to her abode 10
eat sweets, with the diabolical design OF
giving them the fatal disease. Tne ioV-
ers arrive. Ervoanik is tired. He re-
cIines on the porch and drinks bowl OF
wine. He falls asleep. While he sleeps
the old witch sings terrific incantations,
declaring that she hates humanity, that
she sows devastation about her, and, In
grewsome, Macabresque song, con-
fesses that she has already given lep-
rosy to hundreds, and that she will COM
municate It to thousands! Then Aliette
ayows that she also has aided her
mother, and that she has hirted with
eighteen strong, healthy village lads, all
of whom are now lepers. But Aliette In
plaintive love canticle declares that
she loves Ervoanik, and wishes TO save
him. This so enrages the old witch OF
mother that with devilish cunning she
induces her daughter to believe that her
lover is false to her and that he already
has a young sweetheart and two chill
dren. Ervoanik awakes. Aliette, furi-
Gus with jealousy, takes goblet, fills 1t
with wine and, first drinking from /!
with her leprous lips, hands 1t TO
Eryoanik with the words: Drink!
Drinkl This is my blood" Ervosnik
empties the glass, and all know that he
Is contaminated.
Some weeks later dhird acD Ervoanik
'manifests the frightful signs of leprosy
such as are depicted In Holbein's famous
picture at Munich. The seneschal ap-
pears with men armed with halberds
and proclaims the terrible sentence
against leprosy that prevailed in the
Christendom of the Middle Ages. The
leper is denounced, and at the point OF
pba ptinQ
the DE Profundis," Ervoanik Is forced
TO cover himself with the black mantle
and carry the scarlet cross and wooden
clappers as signal Of isolation and
walk away 10 the white pest houses"
where lepers are kept imprisoned for the
rest of their lives. AS the priests In
funereal raiments sprinkle ashes on
Ervoaniks head another leper appears
in the sinister uniform OF prescription.
II is Aliette She approaches her lover,
as all recoil with adherence. Aliette
and Ervoanik embrace, and both pro-
ceed toward frightful solitude and death.
The music is at times in keeping with
the dramatic intensity Of the poem, but
does not dllObtlHtE cNo.u VI
lugubl GUS monotony. The theme of the
old witch is incisive and tragic. II re-
calls the ineantations of the witches in
Macbeth" The presence in the first
act of Aliette, whose whole being
vibrates with mystic transports, is
marked with old Breton folklore mel
odles, which as concentrated and de-
veloped by Silvio Lazzari, have genuine
lyric effects.
AS a drama La Leprcuse,' under the
title OF Ton Sang" was produced at
the Theatre de rOeuvre in 1896, and in
the part OF Aliette Mile. Berthe Bady
made her debut in Paris. The opera is
beautifully staged by NJ Albert Carre at
the Opera Comlque. The part of Aliette
is sung by Nine. Marguerite Carre with
charming effect. The superb contralto
voice of Nine. DeIna was applauded in
the terrible role OF the sorceress. and NJ
Leon Beyle sang with distinction and
discreet emotion the part Of Ervoanik.
c. |. y.
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