| Content | Bohuslav Martinů finishes work on JULIET. He and Georges Neveux found the current version of the ending too sad, so he proposes a new one:
After Michel's singing, the scenery in the left part of the scene disappears and instead, in the low light, part of the scenery from Act 1 is slightly visible, i.e. the house of the old Arab with the lantern. The young Arab tells his father that a man is looking for the Sailor's Hotel, and the old Arab replies that the hotel is here. Michel returns to his house. Meanwhile, the man with the white helmet, the merchants, and several characters from Acts 2 and 3 approach. A melody is heard in the accordion for a while and the curtain falls.
Musically, this allows the composer to reintroduce a theme from the beginning and so bring the form to a close. It would also work as a necessary plot distraction before the conclusion. Moreover, it would accentuate the dreamlike aspect, which takes concrete forms in Act 3.
BM asks for Neveux's opinion. When it suits Neveux, BM visits him.
BM has read in the newspaper that "Madame" [GN's wife?] is playing at the [Paris] Théâtre des Arts. He would like to see her but no longer dares to ask GN for tickets. He [together with Charlotte Martinů] visited Jouvel [Louis Jouvet?] and was delighted. |