The Haunted Opera is a Historical Character Mystery that is part of Marie-Grace and Cécile's books.
Characters
From the Central Series
Introduced
Chapter By Chapter Summary
Chapter One: Spies Backstage
Chapter Two: The Queen
Chapter Three: A Ghost from the Past
Chapter Four: An Intruder
Chapter Five: Search for a Crown
Chapter Six: Overheard
Chapter Seven: Just a Scratch
Chapter Eight: On Pins and Needles
Chapter Nine: Among the Tombs
Chapter Ten: The Secret Message
Chapter Eleven: A Dangerous Rehearsal
Chapter Twelve: Last Chance
Chapter Thirteen: Courage!
Looking Back
Discusses New Orleans' place as a leading cultural center for opera and theater in America during the 1800s. Topics covered:
- Opera as a popular form of entertainment among the people of New Orleans in the 1850s
- The Crown Diamonds, a French opera composed by Daniel Auber
- The St. Charles Theatre, the largest and most extravagant theater of America at the time with two tiers of balconies, luxurious boxes along the sides, and a two-ton chandelier
- The appeal of opera to all social classes, from the wealthiest to slaves given permission to attend
- The reputation of New Orleans' theater companies along the East Coast
- Foreign opera companies that toured in America and the fame of European opera singers and performers
- Dangers and risks touring opera companies faced while traveling abroad, from transportation hazards to inclement weather and illnesses that could cancel shows and delay travel
- Laws that forbade slaves from traveling, in addition to reading and writing, making contact difficult between slaves and free people of color
- Methods slaves and free people of color used to keep in touch, using symbols in place of names and spoken messages
Glossary of French Terms
References
- ↑ Pg. 2: [Marie-Grace and Cécile's] teacher was Madame Océane, the kind and talented opera singer who had recently married Marie-Grace's Uncle Luc. Océane and Luc Rousseau were married in October 1853 during the events of Marie-Grace Makes a Difference.
