New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12

The plot Of the opera is very sim
Il. The authors of the lib-etto were
NJ Z Cornon and Michel Care.
IA. scene is laid in old Ceylon, a
,,-,,s eolorfll and poetic which evil
,.,,ly appealed 20 Bizet, for it is said
!. yer. 10 work on the score with
rrss. snthusiasm.
r,sb year, the story goes, the pearl
s.tes assemble at an appointed time
:, harvest their pearls beneath the
10, Before starting on their perilous
s,s,,iaking they elect a chief whom
,,,, swear 70 obey. But the powers
q. sea and air must be sppeased, and,
Will. the peal fishers are at work
v,iled maiden seated on lofty rock
Watches and sings to ward Of the
evil spirits. Chsste as veStsl must
n. unknown maiden be. Leila, whom
II, old priest Noursbsd had found in
distant pa. Of the island, has been
chosen. and duly she takes oath to
zu,ys. the chief o. the tribe, to close
10, heart 10 love and hide her face
ron sll men while she chants her
nyste prayc- 10 the spirits OF the
vs;sry deep
Among the pea-l fishers is Nsdir,
childhood companion Of Zurga, with
sAOn he bad hunted in the forest,
himself ever secking 10 forget luck
kss passion. For one night in Gambia
ne two friends had entered a mosque
= prayer hour. There they beheld
goman yelled, with a goddess-step.
Tor an instant the veil parted and
he vision dAzzled the eyes of both
the friends. Immediately they felt
,Asnselves rivals in love. They fed,
.oveyer, and each swore TO the other
I, Danish thoughts Of the enchantress,
VIC so nes-ly destroyed their friend
NIP.
Nadir has Just returned from the
forest on this sacramento day,
believing himself cured Of his
passion, when he hears a voice
from the rocks invoking Brahma.
he sees the yelled figure and is
convinced by its bearing that it Is
hone other than the unknown Of the
mosque. His passion swskes with re-
doubled intensity.
Leila in the second act is found at
night in a ruined temple. She is
dreaming Of the stranger whom she
las recognized. Presently Nadir ap-
pears He has climbed the rocks from
as sea 20 tell her Of his love. Happy
Ia their embraces, the lovers forget the
CANCER that threatens; the skies dark
% ard a storm breaks. Nourabad the
PRIEST seeks Leila and discovers the
gulty pair. lie gives alarm, and all,
snged at the faithless maiden and
ne sserilegious NAdir, demand their
e.ith. zurya, however, mindful OF
lis friendship, Is about to pardon
Nitir, when he sees Leils's face.
Then. mad with Jealousy, he pro
s'unees their condemnation.
Every preparation Is being made for
hs execution Of the two lovers; the
PRIEST and priestesses and pearl FISH
.s are performing their wild tribal
canoes, when suddenly flames illumine
ns distant landscape. Their camp
u On FIRE; II Is the work Of Zurgs,
'ao has discovered in Leila his pro
Ne'or from pursuing enemies on an
occasion years before, by the neck
nes abe wears, his gift Of gratitude.
tas sentiment stronger even than
Maternal friendship, inspires him TO
ave both Leila and Nadir, and, while
'a trbesmen rush 70 their burning
amp, he releases the captives and
''' them Zee 70 the boat which
Nais them on the shore.
Nhough the opera was a success at
~ int representation in Paris, it did
~ hold the public II was sung on
,s'ptenber 2e, 1858, at the Theatre
.s'ncus, with Mile. Leontine de
~sesin in the role Of Leila. Birets
,'sncs had heralded It's success be-
Wv The representation and this
r'@od sliensted most Of the press.
:" The work, despite its novelty and
-'eal sudaeities, was warmly re-
,'"ed and Bizet himself was brought
'''o'e the curtain. II was the first
f-0he manifestation Of the young
MOO Of composers saluting this
s''hg man Of twenty-five as one Of
readers, the leader who was both
...ngsst and boldest. But the great
''''s o. the press, with the notable
'puon Of Hector Berlioz. would
- none Of IL. IL received eighteen
''0rnanees during the season and
w DISAPPEARED, and was not re-
'N until thirty years ago. when It
=, even al the Opera Comique. In
~ however, its career had been
~" fortunate, and it was added 70
~ regular repertory Of La Scala In
In 1887 IL was given Mt Gov
arden, under the title Leila"
~ interest to know that tive OF