He then
borrows Albert's pistols, and shoots himself in his lodgings, where
Charlotte finds him, and he breathes his last sigh in her arms. Though
in tone and sentiment more akin to 'Manon,' in form 'Werther' resembles
'Esclarmonde.' It is constructed upon a basis of guiding themes, which
are often employed with consummate skill. The uniform melancholy of the
story makes the music slightly monotonous, and though the score cannot
fail to delight musicians, it has hardly colour or variety enough to be
generally popular. 'Le Portrait de Manon,' a delicate little sketch in
one act, and 'Thais,' a clever setting of Anatole France's beautiful
romance, both produced in 1894, will not be likely to add much to
Massenet's reputation. 'La Navarraise,' produced during the same year in
London, was apparently an attempt to imitate the melodramatic
extravagance of Mascagni. The action takes place under the walls of
Bilbao during the Carlist war. Anita loves Araquil, a Spanish soldier,
but his father will not permit the marriage because of her poverty.
Seeing that a reward is offered for the head of the Carlist general,
Anita goes forth like a second Judith, trusting to her charms to win
admittance to the hostile camp. She wins her reward, but Araquil, who is
brought in from a battle mortally wounded, knowing the price at which it
was won, thrusts her from him, and she sinks a gibbering maniac upon his
corpse.
Pages:
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274