La Navarraise by Jules Massenet

Jules Massenet was a French composer who was born in 1842. Outstanding melodist and harmonist, he woke up as early as 4 AM to compose music (perseverance wins, right?) and, interestingly, did it rather in mind than on piano. That's mainly operas that brought Massenet fame, and even his first one (La grand'tante) features quite interesting plot, where protagonist marries his great-aunt trying to hook in his great-uncle’s inheritance. For some time Massenet's works were forgotten, but in the 1970s they were rediscovered. La Navarraise is a one-act opera based on La cigarette, novel written by Claretie. Its events take place in the time of the Third Carlist War in Spain, and it’s quite breathtaking. The score is available here: La Navarraise (Act I).