WCSU Opera to perform two Puccini one-acts
DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University’s spring opera production will feature the contrasting one-act operas “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,”which seem to be Giacomo Puccini’s answer to Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”
The WCSU Opera Ensemble will present the two Puccini operas at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, and at 3 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The public is invited. Admission will be $15 for adults, and $10 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. WestConn students with valid I.D. will be admitted free.
Guest baritone Scott Toperzer, of Ridgefield, will perform the title role of Gianni Schicchi in the farcical comedy about human greed. The Donati family is melodramatically mourning the death of a rich old relative. When they hear a rumor that he has left all his money to the local monastery, they frantically search for the will and manipulate the situation by hiring a cunning con man — Gianni Schicchi. The joke is on them when Schicchi assumes the identity of the dying man and leaves most of Donati’s wealth to himself.
The lead role in “Suor Angelica” is double cast and will be performed by junior Victoria Chiera, of Danbury, and senior Yvonne Cheng, of Stamford. In this classic tragedy, Sister Angelica has a child and is banished by her wealthy, noble family to a convent as punishment. Seven years later, she finds out about the death of her child and cannot bear the pain. She poisons herself only to realize that she has committed a mortal sin. Begging forgiveness, she sees an image of her son accompanied by the Virgin Mary, symbolizing redemption.
The two acts, “Gianni Schicchi,” which represents hell, and “Suor Angelica,” which represents heaven, are part of the trio of operas known as Puccini’s Il Trittico. The production is directed by WCSU Professor of Music Margaret Astrup, with pianists Oksana Portenic and Andrew Gordon accompanying. “Gianni Schicchi” will be sung in English and “Suor Angelica” will be in Italian with English supertitles.
For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486. For tickets, call (203) 837-8499 or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets.
