Male Duet In Opera Began Belgian Revolution

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 33, 27 January 1939, Page 23

Male Duet In Opera Began Belgian Revolution

Stormy History Of Small Country

‘FOW a male duet in an Mera started the revolution breaking out which led to the establishment of modern Belgium, is one of the most extraordinary incidents-in the annals of the little country we sometimes hear referred to as the "Cockpit of Europe." Story starts with Auber’s opera "Masaniello," the plot of which deals with a revolt, in Naples, in 1647. Masaniello is the leader of the vevolutidn, and his hatred of the oppressors is fanned by the wrongs of his sister Fenella at the hands of the Spanish Viceroy. In the late summer of 1830, Belgium was seething with discontent against domination by Holland. On a certain evening, Auber’s opera was being performed at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie-the Opera House in Brussels. !

When the tenor and baritone sang the famous duet, "Amour Sacre de. la Patrie!", the audience rose in a_ patriotic frenzy and from all parts. of the hause rose shouts of ow ven te Revolution!" The excitement spread from the theatre to the streets, where antiDutch demonstrations were made. The revolution had begun. Belgium’s stormy history has furnished many gallant heroes, so her behaviour in the late war was true to tradition. The invasion and occupation of Belgium during the war was accompanied by numerous illegalities, More than 5000 civilians, among them priests, women and infants, were killed; hesides provisions and manufactures, industrial equipment of all kinds was seized; illegal war

contributions were extracted; a policy of dividing the Flemings and the Wadlloons was carried out; and, as a final outrage, the entire male population, by an order issued on October 3, 1916, was deported en masse and subjected to industrial servitude in Germany or compelled to do military work behind: the front, exposed to the fire of the Allied artillery. But the fortitude of the Belgian nation remained unshaken through all their misfortunes. The names of General Leman, M. Max, burgomaster of Brussels, Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, and above all, King Albert the: First, live as noble embodiments. of ‘the finest qualities of the. Belgian people, Belgium has since risen out of the ashes, like Phoenix, in renewed vigour and splendour. Various phases of historic and present-day Belgium will be attractively presented in. the popular. recorded feature, "Ports of Cali-A Visit to Belgium," scheduled for 2YA on Saturday, February 4,