Opera, Liberalism, and Antisemitism in Nineteenth-Century France: The Politics of Halevy’s La Juive

This is the first critical study of the nineteenth-century French grand opera La Juive (Paris Opera, 1835) a powerful and successful work by the leading dramatist and librettist, Eugene Scribe, and conservatoire-trained composer, Fromental Halévy. Hallman explores the politically charged messages of the opera within the context of French social and cultural history. The book addresses the opera's portrayal of religious intolerance, Jewish-Christian conflict, and also considers the portrayal of the central Jewish characters in light of literary stereotypes and contradictory, antisemitic attitudes toward Jews in French society.