His earlier works are, for the most, light and delicate trifles;
but in 'Jean de Paris' (1812) and 'La Dame Blanche' (1825), to name only
two of his many successful works, he shows real solidity of style and no
little command of musical invention, combined with the delicate melody
and pathetic grace which rarely deserted him. The real strength and
distinction of 'La Dame Blanche' have sufficed to keep it alive until
the present day, although it has never, in spite of the Scottish origin
of the libretto, won in this country a tithe of the popularity which it
enjoys in France. The story is a combination of incidents taken from
Scott's 'Monastery' and 'Guy Mannering.' The Laird of Avenel, who was
obliged to fly from Scotland after the battle of Culloden, entrusted his
estates to his steward Gaveston. Many years having passed without
tidings of the absentee, Gaveston determines to put the castle and lands
up for sale. He has sedulously fostered a tradition which is current
among the villagers, that the castle is haunted by a White Lady, hoping
by this means to deter any of the neighbouring farmers from competing
with him for the estate. The day before the sale takes place, Dickson,
one of the farmers, is summoned to the castle by Anna, an orphan girl
who had been befriended by the Laird. Dickson is too superstitious to
venture, but his place is taken by George Brown, a young soldier, who
arrived at the village that day.
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