La caverne (Méhul)

Arthur Pougin ascribes this to the competition from Le Sueur's opera of the same title, based on the same events from Gil Blas, first staged at the Théâtre Feydeau in February 1793.

"Alvar, another character in love with the niece, comes to elope with her while her uncle the canon is absent, but his coach overturns in a ravine on the way, hampering his plan.

Alvar explains how he plans to elope with the young person who lives nearby and tells him of the accident which has hindered him.

"Ambrosio returns and, before he can enter his house, is robbed by Gil Blas who, watched by the rest of the robber band, approaches the canon and timidly demands his purse or his life.

But I am astonished that with this scenery at their disposal the authors did not make the inhabitants of the cavern and those of the forest - who are unaware of what is happening below - sing arias of differing characters.

The joyful song of a woodcutter, for example, would have made a contrast with the plaintive cries of the prisoners, and the effect might have been striking.