La Juive

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La Juive (The Jewess) is an opera in five acts by Jacques Halévy to an original libretto by Eugène Scribe. First performance: Paris, 1835.

Contents 1 Characters 2 Plot 2.1 Act I 2.2 Act II 2.3 Act III 2.4 Act IV 2.5 Act V

[edit] Characters

• Principal roles
  • Rachel - Soprano
  • Éléazar - Tenor
  • Prince Léopold - Tenor
  • Eudoxie - Soprano
  • Gian Francesco, Cardinal of Brogni - Bass
• Minor roles
  • Ruggiero - Baritone
  • Albert - Bass
• Other
  • Herald - Baritone
  • Two drinkers - Tenor and Bass
  • Major domo - Baritone
  • Officer - Tenor
  • Executioner - Baritone
  • Emperor Sigismund - Mute
  • Chorus

[edit] Plot

The action takes place in Konstanz (Constance) in 1414. Years before, Eléazar, a Jew who lived in Rome, witnessed his two sons condemned as heretics by Count Brogni and burnt to death. Forced to flee and en route to Switzerland, Eléazar passed a house that brigands had burnt down, mistaken believing that they had killed the whole family of the house owner, Count Brogni. Eléazar discovers a baby girl left outside to die. He rescues her, and over the years raises her as his own daughter Rachel and as a Jewess. He now works as a jeweller in Constance. Brogni, in the belief that he had lost his entire family, joined the church and eventually became a Cardinal and President of the Council in Constance. There is open enmity between Brogni and Eléazar, who has never disclosed to the Cardinal all that happened so many years ago.

[edit] Act I

The city square, Constance A service of celebration is heard from the church on one side of the square in honour of Prince Léopold, who has been victorious over the Hussites (Te Deum laudamus). Ruggiero, the city provost, declares a public holiday. But there is also the sound of hammering from the workmen in the jeweller's on the other: the owner, Eléazar, a Jew, and his Jewish workers have not taken the day off for a Christian festival, and the celebrating crowd takes offence. Eléazar admits that he wants nothing to do with anything connected with the Christian church's rituals, because it was that same church that ordered the death of his sons. Ruggiero threatens him with death for not complying. Cardinal Brogni arrives to find out who the Jews are who are not keeping to the day's festivals; Eléazar faces him and reminds him of their past, for which Brogni asks forgiveness and offers his friendship. Brogni wants the Jews to receive God's forgiveness, and they all express their conflicting attitudes: Eléazar wishes ill to Christians, his daughter, Rachel wants reconciliation, while Ruggiero sees Jews as inevitable enemies of Christians.

[edit] Act II

[edit] Act III

[edit] Act IV

[edit] Act V