Chapter CLXVI: Act IV: The scene is the same, but it is far into the night. The

candles are burning low, the fire is dying out, _Catherine_ and _Lefebvre_ have a brief scene in which they deplore that they are powerless to prevent _Neipperg's_ execution. _Catherine_ cannot even inform the _Empress_ and possibly obtain her intervention, for her door, at _Napoleon's_ command, is guarded by _Roustan_.

But _Napoleon_, when he comes in, is sufficiently impressed by _Catherine's_ faith in the _Empress's_ loyalty to put it to the test. At his direction, she knocks at the _Empress's_ door, and pretending to be her Matron of Honour, Mme. de Bülow, says, "Majesty, Neipperg is here." The _Empress_ passes out a letter. "Give this to him--and my farewell." _Napoleon_ takes the letter, breaks the seal. The letter is to the _Empress's_ father, the Emperor of Austria, whom she asks to entertain _Neipperg_ in Vienna as his assiduity troubles her and the _Emperor_. _Napoleon_ orders _Fouché_ to restore _Neipperg's_ sword and let him depart.

"As for your divorce," he says to _Lefebvre_, with a savage look, "My wish is this"--playfully he tweaks _Catherine_ by the ear. "Hold her for ever true. Give thanks to heaven for giving her to you."

Hunting-horns and the chorus of hunters are heard outside.

ANDRÉ CHÉNIER

"André Chénier" was produced at La Scala, Milan, March 23, 1896. It was given in London, in English, April 26, 1903. Long before that, November 13, 1896, New York heard it at the Academy of Music, under Mapleson. It had a single performance, under the management of Oscar Hammerstein, at the Manhattan Opera House in 1908, and eight years later was given by, and endured through the season of, the Boston-National Opera Company, both in Boston and on tour.

Historical as a character though André Chénier be, Giordano's librettist, Luigi Illica, has turned his life into fiction. Chénier was a poet, dreamer, and patriot. Born at Constantinople, he went to Paris for his education. Later he became a participant in and victim of the French Revolution.

CHARACTERS

ANDRÉ CHÉNIER _Tenor_
CHARLES GÉRARD _Baritone_
COUNTESS DE COIGNY _Soprano_
MADELEINE, her daughter _Soprano_
BERSI, her maid _Mezzo-Soprano_
ROUCHER _Bass_
MATHIEU _Baritone_
MADELON _Soprano_
FLÉVILLE _Tenor_
THE ABBÉ _Tenor_
SCHMIDT, jailer at St. Lazare _Bass_
A SPY _Tenor_
[Transcriber's Note: "Tenor" missing in original]

Guests at ball, servants, pages, peasants, soldiers of the
Republic, masqueraders, judges, jurymen, prisoners, mob,
etc.

_Time_--Just prior to and during the French Revolution.

_Place_--Paris.

Act I. Ballroom in a château. _Gérard_, a servant, but also a revolutionist, is secretly in love with _Madeleine_, the _Countess's_ daughter. Among the guests at a ball is _André Chénier_, a poet with revolutionary tendencies. _Madeleine_ asks him to improvise a poem on love. Instead, he sings of the wrongs of the poor. _Gérard_ appears with a crowd of ragged men and women, but at the _Countess's_ command servants force the intruders out. _Chénier_ and _Madeleine_, the latter weary of the routine of fashion, have been attracted to each other.

Act II. Café Hottot in Paris, several years later. _Chénier_ has offended the Revolutionists by denouncing Robespierre. A spy is watching _Bersi_, _Madeleine's_ old nurse, and sees her hand _Chénier_ a letter. It is from _Madeleine_. She loves him. She is dogged by spies, begs him come to her aid, and arranges a meeting.

Robespierre passes, followed by a mob. _Gérard_, now high in favour, seeks to possess _Madeleine_, who comes to meet the poet. They are about to flee, when _Gérard_, notified by the spy, interposes. _Chénier_ and _Gérard_ fight with swords. _Gérard_ is wounded. The lovers escape.

Act III. Revolutionary Tribunal. The crowd sings the "Carmagnole." _Chénier_ has been captured. _Gérard_ writes the indictment for his rival. _Madeleine_ pleads for her lover, finally promising to give herself to _Gérard_ if _Chénier_ is spared. _Gérard_, moved by the girl's love, agrees to save _Chénier_ if he can. At the trial he declares that the indictment against _Chénier_ is false. But the mob, thirsting for more blood, demands the poet's death.