GISMONDA

Opera in four acts by Henri Février with a libretto based on Sardou's famous play had its first performance in America in Chicago, January 14, 1919, with Mi Mary Garden, Charles Fontaine, Gustave Huberdeau, Marcel Journet, and other members of the Chicago Opera Company in the leading rôles. The opera was given on the opening night of the same organization's season in New York, January 27, 1919, at the Lexington Theatre with the same cast. The story follows that of the play. Gismonda , Duche of Athens, promises to wed the man who succeeds in rescuing her little son from a tiger's pit, into which he has been pushed by a conspirator who wishes to help Zaccaria Franco to seize the Duchy. Almério , a young falconer, kills the beast and saves the child. But the proud though grateful Duche will not consider a peasant for her husband. If Almério will renounce his claim Gismonda promises to spend a night at his hut. When she discovers that Zaccaria has followed her she slays him. Almério takes the guilt for the murder upon himself but Gismonda makes public confe ion of her visit to his hut, hands over the wicked Grégoras , who had attempted to murder her little son, to justice, and proclaims the falconer her lord and husband.