 By the end of 1841 , Meyerbeer had completed the first draft of Le prophète , but refused to stage it because the then director of the opera , Leon <unk> , wished to cast his mistress , <unk> <unk> , in the part of <unk> , the hero 's mother . ( Berlioz characterised <unk> as ' la <unk> du <unk> ' ) . Meyerbeer insisted on Pauline <unk> for the role . Meyerbeer lodged the score with a Parisian lawyer , and refused to countenance any production until his wishes were met . It was not until 1849 when the Opéra was willing to agree his conditions . Meyerbeer was unique in his time in having the wealth and influence to impose his will as a composer in this way . 
