The standard operas, their plots and their music; . n Alexandria, whither Athanaelhas gone to resume his exhortations. Nicias greets him, andAthanael questions him as to Thais. He confesses he hasbeen ruined by her and laughs at Athanaels determina-tion to reclaim her. To afford him the opportunity Ni-cias gives a supper for her at which Athanael, handsomelyarrayed, is present. He attracts the admiration of Thais,and while he is bent upon his purpose she seeks to allurehim with her charms. Athanael denounces her and fleesfrom the house when she once more prepares to pose asVenus. The second ac
The standard operas, their plots and their music; . n Alexandria, whither Athanaelhas gone to resume his exhortations. Nicias greets him, andAthanael questions him as to Thais. He confesses he hasbeen ruined by her and laughs at Athanaels determina-tion to reclaim her. To afford him the opportunity Ni-cias gives a supper for her at which Athanael, handsomelyarrayed, is present. He attracts the admiration of Thais,and while he is bent upon his purpose she seeks to allurehim with her charms. Athanael denounces her and fleesfrom the house when she once more prepares to pose asVenus. The second act opens in the house of Thais. While sheis regarding her charms in the mirror, Athanael appears atthe door, prays for her, and tells her he loves her with hisspirit. As she listens to him she places incense in a burnerand invokes Venus. Athanael commands her to follow him,but hears the distant voice of Nicias calling her. She hesi-tates, and Athanael says he will wait until the dawn. Niciasand his friends appear, and revelry begins. As it proceeds. Gustave Huberdeau as Palevion CopyrigM, Matzene MASSENET 167 Athanael fires the house and Thais, clad in a woollen gar-ment, follows him away amid the execrations of Niciasfollowers. The opening scene of the third act is laid at an oasis,where Thais and Athanael appear, overcome with consoles her, then leads her to a convent and leavesher in charge of the abbess, after she has bidden him a lastfarewell. In the next scene a storm arises and Athanaelappears among the monks in a dejected condition. He con-fesses that since he has reclaimed Thais he has been hauntedby impure dreams. A vision of Thais comes before him,whereupon he rushes out into the storm. The last act shows the gardens of the monastery. Thaislies dying with the nuns by her side, when Athanael entersinquiring for her. The nuns lead him to her and he kneelsby her side as she tells him of her conversion. Athanael,however, still under the influence of his l
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Keywords: ., bookauthorupt, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectoperas
