Act IV. The cloisters of the Monastery of St. James. Ceremony of

_Ferdinand's_ entry into the order. "Splendon più belle in ciel le stelle" (Behold the stars in splendour celestial), a distinguished solo and chorus for _Balthazar_ and the monks.

Left alone, _Ferdinand_ gives vent to his sorrow, which still persists, in the romance, "Spirto gentil" (Spirit of Light), one of the most exquisite tenor solos in the Italian repertory.

[Music: Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei brillasti un dì, ma ti perdei]

In 1882, thirty-four years after Donizetti's death, there was produced in Rome an opera by him entitled "Il Duca d'Alba" (The Duke of Alba). Scribe wrote the libretto for Rossini, who does not appear to have used it. So it was passed on to Donizetti, who composed, but never produced it. "Spirto gentil" was in this opera, from which Donizetti simply transferred it.

_Balthazar_ and the monks return. With them _Ferdinand_ enters the chapel. _Leonora_, disguised as a novice, comes upon the scene. She hears the chanting of the monks, _Ferdinand's_ voice enunciating his vows. He comes out from the chapel, recognizes _Leonora_, bids her be gone. "Ah! va, t'invola! e questa terra" (These cloisters fly, etc.).

She, however, tells him of her unsuccessful effort to let him know of her past, and craves his forgiveness for the seeming wrong she has wrought upon him. "Clemente al par di Dio" [Transcriber's Note: some scores render this as 'Pietoso al par del Nume'] (Forgiveness through God I crave of thee).

All of _Ferdinand's_ former love returns for her. "Vieni, ah! vieni," etc. (Joy once more fills my breast).

He would bear her away to other climes and there happily pass his days with her. But it is too late. _Leonora_ dies in his arms. "By tomorrow my soul, too, will want your prayers," are _Ferdinand's_ words to _Balthazar_, who, approaching, has drawn _Leonora's_ cowl over her dishevelled hair. He calls upon the monks to pray for a departed soul.

LINDA DI CHAMOUNIX

LINDA OF CHAMOUNIX

Opera, in three acts, by Donizetti; words by Rossi. Produced, May 19, 1842, Theatre near the Carinthian Gate (Kärnthnerthor), Vienna. London, June, 1843. New York, Palma's Opera House, January 4, 1847, with Clothilda Barili; Academy of Music, March 9, 1861, with Clara Louise Kellogg, later with Patti as _Linda_ and Galassi as _Antonio_; Metropolitan Opera House, April 23, 1890, with Patti.

CHARACTERS

MARQUIS DE BOISFLEURY _Bass_ CHARLES, Vicomte de Sirval _Tenor_ PREFECT _Bass_ PIERROT _Contralto_ LINDA _Soprano_ ANTONIO _Baritone_ MADELINE _Soprano_ INTENDANT _Tenor_

Peasant men and women, Savoyards, etc.

_Time_--1760, during the reign of Louis XV.

_Place_--Chamounix and Paris.

"Linda di Chamounix" contains an air for soprano without which no collection of opera arias is complete. This is _Linda's_ aria in the first act, "O luce di quest'anima" (Oh! star that guid'st my fervent love). When Donizetti was composing "Linda di Chamounix" for Vienna, with this air and its fluent embellishments, he also was writing for the Imperial chapel a "Miserere" and an "Ave Maria" which were highly praised for a style as severe and restrained as "O luce di quest'anima" is light and graceful.

"Linda di Chamounix" is in three acts, entitled "The Departure," "Paris," "The Return." The story is somewhat naïve, as its exposition will show.