Chapter CLXVII: Act IV: Prison of Lazare at midnight. Madeleine enters to Chénier

with _Gérard_. She has bribed the _jailer_ to allow her to substitute for another woman prisoner. If she cannot live for her lover, she can, at least, die with him. Together she and _Chénier_ go to the scaffold.

* * * * *

Two other operas by Giordano have been heard in America--"Fedora," after Sardou, Metropolitan Opera House, December 16, 1906, with Cavalieri and Caruso; and "Siberia," Manhattan Opera House, February 5, 1908. They have not lasted.

Modern Italian Opera

ERO E LEANDRO

Opera in three acts by Luigi Mancinelli; libretto by Arrigo Boïto. First produced in America at the Metropolitan Opera House, March 10, 1899, with the composer conducting and the following cast: _Hero_, Mme. Eames; _Leandro_, Saléza, and Plançon as _Ariofarno_.

In the first act the lovers meet at a festival. _Leandro_, victor in the Aphrodisian games both as a swordsman and cytharist, is crowned by _Hero_. He sings two odes borrowed from Anacreon. _Ariofarno_, the archon, loves _Hero_. When he seeks to turn her from her sacred mission as priestess of Aphrodite she spurns his love. She invokes an omen from a sea shell, on the altar of the goddess, and hears in it rushing waters and the surging sea, that will eventually turn her romance to tragedy. When she kneels before the statue of Apollo and pleads to know her fate, _Ariofarno_, concealed, answers: "Death."

The second act takes place in the temple of Aphrodite. The archon claims that he has been warned by the oracle to reinstate a service in a town by the sea. He consecrates _Hero_ to the duty of giving warning of approaching storms, so that the raging waters may be appeased by priestly ritual. He offers to release her from this task if she will return his love. When she again spurns him, _Leandro_ attempts to attack him. For this, the young man is banished to the shores of Asia, while _Hero_ sadly pledges herself to the new service.

In the third act _Leandro_ has performed his famous swimming feat. The lovers sing their ecstasy. Meanwhile a storm arises unobserved. The trumpet that should have been sounded by _Hero_ is sounded from the vaults beneath the tower. _Leandro_ throws himself into the Hellespont while _Ariofarno_ and his priests chide _Hero_ for her neglect as they discover its cause. A thunderbolt shatters a portion of the tower wall and _Leandro's_ body is disclosed. _Hero_ falls dying to the ground, while the archon rages.

CONCHITA

Opera in four acts by Riccardo Zandonai; text by Vaucaire
and Zangarini, based on Pierre Louÿs's "La Femme et le
Pantin" (The Woman and the Puppet). Produced, Milan, 1911.

CHARACTERS

CONCHITA _Soprano_
MATEO _Tenor_
CONCHITA'S MOTHER _Mezzo-Soprano_
RUFINA _Mezzo-Soprano_
ESTELLA _Mezzo-Soprano_
THE SUPERINTENDENT _Mezzo-Soprano_
THE INSPECTOR _Bass_
GARCIA, Dance Hall Proprietor _Bass_
TONIO, waiter _Bass_

Various characters in a cigar factory, a dance hall, and a
street. Distant voices.

_Time_--The Present.

_Place_--Seville.

Act I. In a cigar factory. Among the visitors _Conchita_, one of the cigar girls, recognizes _Mateo_, a wealthy Spaniard, who rescued her from the forced attentions of a policeman. She invites _Mateo_ to her home. The girl's mother, delighted that her daughter has attracted a wealthy man, goes out to make some purchases. Love scene for _Mateo_ and _Conchita_. The mother returns, and, unseen by _Conchita_, _Mateo_ gives her money. When _Mateo_ leaves, and _Conchita_ discovers he has given her mother money, she is furious and vows never to see _Mateo_ again, because she thinks he has endeavoured to purchase her love. In her anger she leaves her home.

Act II. A dance hall, where _Conchita_ earns a living by her risqué dances. _Mateo_, who finds her after a long search, is astounded. He begs her to go away with him. She refuses, and executes a most daring dance for a group of visitors. _Mateo_, watching her from outside, and wild with jealousy, breaks through the window. _Conchita_, angry at first, takes from him the key to a little house he owns and tells him that, if he comes at midnight, she will open her lattice to him as to a mysterious lover.

Act III. A street in Seville. _Mateo_ stands before the house. But instead of admitting him, when he pleads his love, she turns and calls, as if to someone within, "Morenito!"--the name of a man he saw her dancing with at the dance hall. _Mateo_ tries to break into the house. _Conchita_ taunts him. He staggers away.