I’ve been writing a lot about “Black September,” the new one-act opera crafted by myself and librettist Matt Boresi for Carthage’s J-Term Opera …. but I certainly hope that any excitement about that doesn’t come at the expense of the other opera which we are doing. In fact, this new opera would never have come into being at all were it not for Puccini’s “Suor Angelica,” one of the most exquisite and moving operas ever written- and an opera that is very near and dear to my heart. It’s one of three one-act operas that comprise Puccini’s “Il Trittico,” and I was very privileged to be part of an “Il Trittico” production back in graduate school. Michel in “Il Tabarro” was actually my very first onstage opera role- and if have to start somewhere in this business, it might as well be with one of Puccini’s masterpieces! During those rehearsals and performances, I remember sometimes envying the fun that Brian Leeper and others were having in the rollicking comedy “Gianni Schicchi” – but the music I liked most of all was actually from the least often performed of the three: “Suor Angelica.” In fact, I can still remember during the rehearsals when I bought a used LP recording of the opera with Dame Joan Sutherland in the title role – the first complete opera recording I ever purchased. (And I still have it after all these years!) I remember standing backstage and listening to “Suor Angelica” and wishing SO much that there had been a part for a baritone. Alas, it calls for an entirely female cast. And truth be told, there’s something about using nothing but treble voices that helps create an especially beautiful tonal landscape. It’s a work I’ve loved ever since.
The story is a real heartbreaker. The title character is a young woman who was dispatched to a convent by her well-to-do family to help them escape the embarrassment of her being an unwed mother. Angelica has heard absolutely nothing from her family for the past seven years, but her hopes surge when her aunt comes to the convent. Alas, it is only for the purpose of having Angelica sign away any claims she might have on the family fortune. As her heartless aunt is getting ready to leave, Angelica beseeches her for news about her young son. Angelica is then told that her young son died from a tragic illness two years before- which leaves Angelica determined to end her life in order to join her son in heaven. (I won’t give away the ending.)
By the end of yesterday’s “Suor Angelica” rehearsal, I was truly verklempt – although not so much from the story itself (which I know so thoroughly) as from the impressive, inspiring excellence of the young women in our cast. I could not get over how beautifully and expressively everyone was singing. And moreover, our performance is in Italian – which makes their work all the more impressive. And Matt Boresi, our stage director, has really done a tremendous job of guiding them to even more expressive work. We are so delighted by the good work of MeriKatherine Bock, Marina Awes, Allie Kurkjian, Sarah Thelen, Angela Yu, Laura Smith, Maura Atwood and Mitchell Morales- and I must especially commend MeriKatherine for her exemplary singing of the very taxing title role. There are not many college juniors who could sing the role as well as she is. And as her icy aunt, Marina Awes – one of the sweetest people I know – is managing to bring this character alive with very impressive results. But I hasten to add that every one of these young singers is doing a wonderful job – each so beautifully matched to their particular role …. and when all of them sing together (as happens often in this work) it’s as those we have angels amongst us!
These young women’s devotion to this production has been astounding, and Matt and I find ourselves in the almost ridiculous quandary of having almost too much time on our hands for what remains to be done. In terms of the basics, we are in spectacular shape – which gives us the chance to begin working on polish and nuance – on perfecting the details – and on bringing this powerful, moving work to full fruition. It feels like nothing short of a supreme privilege to be working with this fine a cast on this beautiful an opera! And that’s what gave me such a lump in my throat yesterday afternoon more than anything- the sense that I could not ask for anything more than this.
Carthage’s production of Suor Angelica – a double bill with the new opera Black September – will be on February 5th and 6th in Siebert Chapel- 7:30. Admission is free.
