Thaïs - Opera in Cinema

$16 - Thais, by Jules Massenet: An opera in three acts and seven scenes from the Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy. The monk Athanaël attempts to convert the beautiful courtesan Thaïs to Christianity, despite the many warnings of his friends. After Athanaël rejects her advances, Thaïs eventually agrees to renounce her worldly possessions and join a convent. It is only upon their arrival at the convent that Athanaël realizes he will never see the beautiful Thaïs again. After their separation, he is consumed by desire for her, and has a vision of her imminent death. He returns to convent to see her, and finds her on her deathbed. He confesses his love and extolls the power of earthly desire, but Thaïs has been changed forever--she sees him only as the man who brought her to salvation. Thaïs receives heavenly visions and dies Athanaël's arms, while Athanaël is left in despair and anguish.