Suor Angelica
| Suor Angelica | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Giacomo Puccini | |
 Geraldine Farrar as Suor Angelica and Flora Perini as the Principessa in the 1918 premiere | |
| Description | One-act opera, part of Il trittico |
| Librettist | Giovacchino Forzano |
| Language | Italian |
| Premiere |
14 December 1918 Metropolitan Opera |
Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an original Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico (Triptych). It received its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera on December 14, 1918.[1]
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 14 December 1918 (Conductor: Roberto Moranzoni) |
|---|---|---|
| Sister Angelica | soprano | Geraldine Farrar |
| The Princess, her aunt | contralto | Flora Perini |
| The Abbess | mezzo-soprano | Rita Fornia |
| The Monitress | mezzo-soprano | Marie Sundelius |
| The Mistress of the novices | mezzo-soprano | Cecil Arden |
| Sister Genovieffa | soprano | Mary Ellis |
| Sister Osmina | soprano | Margarete Belleri |
| Sister Dolcina | soprano | Marie Mattfeld |
| The nursing sister | mezzo-soprano | Leonora Sparkes |
| The alms sisters | sopranos | Kitty Beale and Minnie Egener |
| A novice | soprano | Phillis White |
| The lay sisters | soprano and mezzo-soprano | Marie Tiffany and Veni Warwick |
| Offstage chorus of women, children, and men | ||
Synopsis
- Place: A convent near Siena.
- Time: The latter part of the 17th century.
The opera opens with scenes showing typical aspects of life in the convent — all the sisters sing hymns, the Monitor scolds two lay-sisters, everyone gathers for recreation in the courtyard. The sisters rejoice because, as the Mistress of Novices explains, this is the first of three evenings that occur each year when the setting sun strikes the fountain so as to turn its water golden. This event causes the sisters to remember Bianca Rosa, a sister who has died. Sister Genevieve suggests they pour some of the "golden" water onto her tomb.
The nuns discuss their desires. While the Monitor believes that any desire at all is wrong, Sister Genevieve confesses that she wishes to see lambs again because she used to be a shepherdess when she was a girl, and Sister Dolcina wishes for something good to eat. Sister Angelica claims to have no desires, but as soon as she says so, the nuns begin gossiping — Sister Angelica has lied, because her true desire is to hear from her wealthy, noble family, whom she has not heard from in seven years. Rumors are that she was sent to the convent in punishment.
The conversation is interrupted by the Infirmary Sister, who begs Sister Angelica to make an herbal remedy, her specialty. Two tourières arrive, bringing supplies to the convent, as well as news that a grand coach is waiting outside. Sister Angelica becomes nervous and upset, thinking rightly that someone in her family has come to visit her. The Abbess chastises Sister Angelica for her inappropriate excitement and announces the visitor, the Princess, Sister Angelica's aunt.
The Princess explains that Angelica's sister is to be married and that Angelica must sign a document renouncing her claim to her inheritance. Angelica replies that she has repented for her sin, but she cannot offer up everything in sacrifice to the Virgin — she cannot forget the memory of her illegitimate son, who was taken from her seven years ago. The Princess at first refuses to speak, but finally informs Sister Angelica that her son died of fever two years ago. Sister Angelica, devastated, signs the document and collapses in tears. The Princess leaves.
Sister Angelica is seized by a heavenly vision — she believes she hears her son calling for her to meet him in paradise. She makes a poison and drinks it, but realizes that in committing suicide, she has committed a mortal sin and has damned herself to eternal separation from her son. She begs the Virgin Mary for mercy and, as she dies, she sees a miracle: the Virgin Mary appears, along with Sister Angelica's son, who runs to embrace her.
Recordings
| Year | Cast (Suor Angelica, The Princess, The Abbess, The Monitress, Sister Genovieffa) |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Victoria de los Ángeles, Fedora Barbieri, Mina Doro, Mina Doro, Lidia Marimpietri |
Tullio Serafin, Orchestra and Chorus of the Rome Opera |
Audio CD: Regis Cat: RRC 1306 |
| 1962 | Renata Tebaldi, Giulietta Simionato, Lucia Danieli, Miti Trucato Pace, Dora Carral |
Lamberto Gardelli, Orchestra e coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino |
Audio CD: DECCA Cat: 411 665-2 |
| 1973 | Katia Ricciarelli, Fiorenza Cossotto, | Bruno Bartoletti, Accademia di Santa Cecilia Orchestra and Chorus | Audio CD: RCA Red Seal |
| 1975 | Renata Scotto, Marilyn Horne, Patricia Payne, Gillian Knight, Ileana Cotrubas |
Lorin Maazel, New Philharmonia Orchestra |
Audio CD: Sony Classical Cat: 88697527292 |
| 1978 | Joan Sutherland, Christa Ludwig, Anne Collins, Elizabeth Connell, Isobel Buchanan |
Richard Bonynge, National Philharmonic Orchestra |
Audio CD: Decca Cat: 458218 |
| 1983 | Rosalind Plowright, Dunja Vejzovic |
Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Orchestra di La Scala, Milano |
DVD: NVC Cat: 810903706 |
| 1987 | Lucia Popp, Marjana Lipovšek |
Giuseppe Patanè, Munich Radio Orchestra |
Audio CD: Eurodisc Cat: 7806 |
| 1994 | Mirella Freni, Elena Souliotis, Gloria Scalchi, Ewa Podleś, Barbara Frittoli |
Bruno Bartoletti, Orchestra e coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino |
Audio CD: DECCA Cat: 436 261-2 |
Noted arias
- Senza mamma — Suor Angelica
- Nel silenzio — La Zia Principessa
References
Notes
Cited sources
- Wilson, Alexandra. The Puccini Problem. Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 0-521-85688-4.
Other sources
- Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. ISBN 0-14-029312-4
- Warrack, John and West, Ewan, The Oxford Dictionary of Opera New York: OUP: 1992 ISBN 0-19-869164-5
External links
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