In the next scene Santuzza tells her sad story to Lucia, Turridu’s mother, in a romanza of great power ("Voi lo sapete"), closing with an outburst of the highest significance as she appeals to Lucia to pray for her.  In the next scene Turridu enters.  Santuzza upbraids him, and a passionate duet follows in which Santuzza’s suspicions are more than confirmed by his avowal of his passion for Lola.  The duet is interrupted by a song of the latter, heard in the distance with harp accompaniment ("Fior di giaggiolo").  As she approaches the pair the song grows livelier, and at its close she banters poor Santuzza with biting sarcasms, and assails Turridu with all the arts of coquetry.  She passes into the church, confident that the infatuated Turridu will follow her.  An impassioned duo of great power follows, in which Santuzza pleads with him to love her, but all in vain.  He rushes into the church.  She attempts to follow him, but falls upon the steps just as Alfio comes up.  To him she relates the story of her troubles, and of Turridu’s baseness.  Alfio promises to revenge her, and another powerful duet follows.

As they leave the stage, there is a sudden and most unexpected change in the character of the music and the motive of the drama.  In the place of struggle, contesting passions, and manifestations of rage, hate, and jealousy ensues an intermezzo for orchestra, with an accompaniment of harps and organ, of the utmost simplicity and sweetness, breathing something like a sacred calm, and turning the thoughts away from all this human turmoil into conditions of peace and rest.  It has not only become one of the most favorite numbers in the concert repertory, but is ground out from every barrel-organ the world over, and yet it has retained its hold upon popular admiration.

At its close the turmoil begins again and the action hastens to the tragic denouement.  The people come out of the church singing a glad chorus which is followed by a drinking song ("Viva il vino"), sung by Turridu, and joined in by Lola and chorus.  In the midst of the hilarity Alfio appears.  Turridu invites him to join them and drink; but he refuses, and the quarrel begins.  Lola and the frightened women withdraw.  Turridu bites Alfio’s right ear,—­a Sicilian form of challenge.  The scene closes with the death of the former at Alfio’s hands, and Santuzza is avenged; but the fickle Lola has gone her way bent upon other conquests.

MEYERBEER.

Giacomo Meyerbeer, the eldest son of Herz Beer, was born in Berlin, Sept. 5, 1794.  He was named Jacob Meyer Beer, but afterwards called himself Giacomo Meyerbeer.  His early studies were pursued with the pianist Lanska, and Bernard Anselm Weber, chief of the Berlin orchestra.  At fifteen he became the pupil of Vogler in Darmstadt, with whom he displayed such talent in composition that he was named Composer to the Court by the Grand Duke.  At eighteen his