Notes
The Chambre des Députés: the lower house of the French parliament, then housed in the Palais Bourbon. Marie went with her father, who was apparently taking an interest in French politics during his Paris visit. ↩
Semiramide (1823): grand opera by Rossini, based on Voltaire's play. An extremely demanding work for soprano, it was one of Patti's showpieces. Marie finds its grandeur soporific rather than thrilling. ↩