More Operatic Scenes

Stephanie Mann, Program Coordinator
Jeffrey Brody, Pianist

August 11, 2009 at 7:30pm - Christ Episcopal Church, Needham

Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen from Die Zauberflöte, W. A. Mozart

James C. S. Liu, Kay Patterson Shaw

Pamina and Papageno ponder love, agreeing there is nothing nobler than a man and woman who love each other and live through love alone.

Dear elixir from Elixir of Love, G. Donizetti

Elaine Crane, Richard Monroe

Nemorino takes what he thinks is a magic potion in the hopes of winning his love, the spoiled and selfish Adina.

Fra gli amplessi from Così fan tutte, W. A. Mozart

Amanda Kaipio, Christopher Aaron Smith

Fiordiligi is upset when she finds out her sister Dorabella has cheated
on her lover with one of the Albanians. She misses her betrothed, and
decides to go to the army and find him. Before she can leave however,
Ferrando arrives and continues to seduce her. Unable to resist his
charms, Fiordiligi finally succumbs and falls into his arms.

Let me look at you from Little Women, M. Adamo

Brooke Larimer, Stephanie Mann, Erin Pedersen, Jacque Wilson

Jo reminisces about the past and realizes that while she and her sisters have grown up and moved on, they will always remain close.

Sextet from Don Giovanni, W. A. Mozart

Ed Batutis, Seth Grondin, Sarah Kornfeld, Alexandra Lang, Renee Saindon, Christopher Aaron Smith

Leporello attempts to abandon Elvira, who has mistaken him for Don Giovanni. Ottavio, Anna, Zerlina, and Masetto capture and threaten him while Elvira begs for pity. Leporello reveals his true identity in order to escape punishment.

INTERMISSION

Parla, siam soli from Rigoletto, G. Verdi

Natalie Polito, Gary Thies

Rigoletto is united with his kidnapped daughter Gilda who confesses that her kidnapper, the Duke, has also seduced her. Rigoletto at first comforts his heartbroken daughter but his sorrow soon turns to anger as he swears to avenge his daughter's honor as Gilda pleads with her father not to harm the Duke.

Duet from Lucia di Lammermoor, G. Donizetti

David Diamond, Stephanie Mann

Despite the fact that their families are rivals and they are forbidden to see each other, Lucia and Edgardo have fallen in love and now pledge themselves to one another.

Che imbarazzo è mai questo! ... Crudel! Perche finora from Le nozze di Figaro, W. A. Mozart

James C.S. Liu, Erin Pedersen

Count Almaviva ponders a confusing situation. Susanna, his maid, enters and agrees to meet him that evening. He's enraptured, she's ambivalent, and a cat-and-mouse duet ensues.

Suzy, little Suzy, now what is the news? from Hansel and Gretel, E. Humperdink

Caitlin Budny, Rebecca Saslow

In the house of a broom-maker deep in a German forest, Hansel and Gretel have been left by their parents, who are off in town. Gretel recites a nursery rhyme, which Hansel interrupts with cries of hunger. Gretel reprimands her playful brother for complaining. She shows him a pitcher of milk hidden in the cupboard, but will not let him drink it. Gretel teaches Hansel how to dance, and the two abandon their work and dance and sing joyfully around the house.

Sous le dôme épais from Lakmé, L. Delibes

Jen Conant, Amanda Kaipio

Lakmé (the daughter of a Hindu priest) and her attendant, Mallika, sing a beautiful barcarolle while bathing in the stream by the palace garden.

The Promise of Living from The Tender Land, A. Copeland

Ed Batutis, Sean ODonnell, Sara Michale Smith, Gary Thies, Jacque Wilson

In the final scene of the first act of Aaron Copland's The Tender Land, the main characters pause to reflect on the promises of living in rural America. Ma and Pa have momentarily overcome their distrust of the two strangers, Martin and Top, and have hired them to bring in the farm's harvest. Their daughter Laurie is about to graduate from school and is intrigued about the world beyond the confines of the farm. In a celebration of American folk song, Copland weaves a communal tapestry from the shared values of friendship, hard work and thanksgiving.