MARRIAGE OF MDLLE. DE ROTHSCHILD.

Evening Star, Issue 4145, 9 June 1876, Page 4

MARRIAGE OF MDLLE. DE ROTHSCHILD.

The marriage of Mdlle. Bettina de Rothschild. with Baron Albert de Rothschild proved an . unusually interesting ceremony. It took place in the new synagogue in the' Rue de. la Victoire. Twelve o’clock was mentioned on the’ cards of invitation, but it was nearly half an hour after that time' before the bridal pair arrived, in a magnificent equippage, followed by the other members of their numerous family in yoitures de gala. There was an immense crowd in the narrow street, but, as no one was admitted into the synagogue without a ticket, there was plenty of room in the sacred edifice. The coup $ ml, on passing the central doorway, was highly effective. The architecture is imposing in the grand simplicity of its outlines, and the building is both; wide and lofty, forming a spacious nave divided, by m series of arches from two side aisles. A gallery run round thi;ee sides of the building, and the music-loft, with a fine-toned organ, is in a second one above the principal entrance. The effect of the latter on the eye, perched up so high aloft, is more peculiar than pleasing; but in a musical sense the arrangement is admirable. Behind the semi-circular portion bf the synagogue, on each side of the Ten Commandments, answering, to what would be called the Sanctuary in a .church, there was a' profuse decoration of tropical plants, with festoons of red and white, roses disposed against a background of verdure. The red canopy beneath which the ceremony took place stood out iu picturesque relief nlass of green coloring. The lady guests were marshalled into seats on the left, while the* men were sent to the right. The latter were all in full evening dress. As soon as the bride and bridegroom made their appearance, the organ pealed out, and the excellent choir intoned an effective hymn. The boys* voices were particularly bright and telling. From a musical point of view the service was very interesting. A hymn on a charming melody, composed expressly for the occasion by Mr Jonas, was well sung by an amateur, and during the offertory M. Bauer gave the famous prayer from “ Mose in Egitto,” and it was droll to observe the sang /roid with which the entire congregation—l was about to say audience—turned their backs on what we should call the alter, and remained iu this position to gaze at the famous singer, their love of music overcoming their respect, for the sanctity' of the place. Moreover, soon as the offertory began, every!' 0 1 reversed the seat of his wooden in order to make room queteuses who, preceded by , a,.d accompanied by a, tle] solicited alms m accord wUh French > practice, which thia inatan somewhat impaired t « ffecta both f instruments and v jke _ M . Faure sang with s» >b efiect a „ ohant di composed expressly for the oMasio* by M. Samuel David, 18 yr et!y melbdiotis, and the harp accompaniment to the second verse adds to the unquestionable effect of the composition. It begins in French, “ Les chefs d’lsrael sont dans lallegresse,” but M. Faure sang it to Hebrew words. The ceremony was concluded by an extraordinary wild and difficult chant, sung by a cantor possessed of a voice of rare compass and power. In a short sermon the officiating rabbi alluded to the circumstance that the bride and bridegroom were already related by family ties. When the service was over, all the friends of the %ride crowded into a side apartment *to the newly-married pair. The assemblage comprised the notabilities of Parisj and a remarkable number of handsome and well-dressed ladies. Hundreds of people were waiting in the bitterly cold wind in the open td see the bride pass, Htft s£e escaped by a side door in the Bue St. Georges.