Act IV. The scene is the same, but it is far into the night. The

candles are burning low, the fire is dying out, _Catherine_ and _Lefebvre_ have a brief scene in which they deplore that they are powerless to prevent _Neipperg's_ execution. _Catherine_ cannot even inform the _Empress_ and possibly obtain her intervention, for her door, at _Napoleon's_ command, is guarded by _Roustan_.

But _Napoleon_, when he comes in, is sufficiently impressed by _Catherine's_ faith in the _Empress's_ loyalty to put it to the test. At his direction, she knocks at the _Empress's_ door, and pretending to be her Matron of Honour, Mme. de Bülow, says, "Majesty, Neipperg is here." The _Empress_ passes out a letter. "Give this to him--and my farewell." _Napoleon_ takes the letter, breaks the seal. The letter is to the _Empress's_ father, the Emperor of Austria, whom she asks to entertain _Neipperg_ in Vienna as his assiduity troubles her and the _Emperor_. _Napoleon_ orders _Fouché_ to restore _Neipperg's_ sword and let him depart.

"As for your divorce," he says to _Lefebvre_, with a savage look, "My wish is this"--playfully he tweaks _Catherine_ by the ear. "Hold her for ever true. Give thanks to heaven for giving her to you."

Hunting-horns and the chorus of hunters are heard outside.

ANDRÉ CHÉNIER

"André Chénier" was produced at La Scala, Milan, March 23, 1896. It was given in London, in English, April 26, 1903. Long before that, November 13, 1896, New York heard it at the Academy of Music, under Mapleson. It had a single performance, under the management of Oscar Hammerstein, at the Manhattan Opera House in 1908, and eight years later was given by, and endured through the season of, the Boston-National Opera Company, both in Boston and on tour.

Historical as a character though André Chénier be, Giordano's librettist, Luigi Illica, has turned his life into fiction. Chénier was a poet, dreamer, and patriot. Born at Constantinople, he went to Paris for his education. Later he became a participant in and victim of the French Revolution.

CHARACTERS

ANDRÉ CHÉNIER _Tenor_ CHARLES GÉRARD _Baritone_ COUNTESS DE COIGNY _Soprano_ MADELEINE, her daughter _Soprano_ BERSI, her maid _Mezzo-Soprano_ ROUCHER _Bass_ MATHIEU _Baritone_ MADELON _Soprano_ FLÉVILLE _Tenor_ THE ABBÉ _Tenor_ SCHMIDT, jailer at St. Lazare _Bass_ A SPY _Tenor_ [Transcriber's Note: "Tenor" missing in original]

Guests at ball, servants, pages, peasants, soldiers of the Republic, masqueraders, judges, jurymen, prisoners, mob, etc.

_Time_--Just prior to and during the French Revolution.

_Place_--Paris.