Die Maccabäer

Die Maccabäer (German, The Maccabees) (sometimes spelt 'Die Makkabäer') is an opera in three acts by Anton Rubinstein to a libretto by Salomon Hermann Mosenthal.

Die Maccabäer was Rubinstein's most successful opera, holding the German and Russian stages throughout his lifetime.

And now he comes creeping with his mangy operas[..] If it weren't for the penal code, I would go to Peterhof and happily burn his wretched villa to the ground[...][2].

The Jews resist the army of Syria under the leadership of the Maccabees, but Eleazar betrays the insurrection after falling in love with the Syrian king's daughter, Cleopatra.

After pleas from Lea, Antiochus agrees to spare the two younger brothers only if they renounce their religion - otherwise they will be burnt alive.