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Suor Angelica

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Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 14 December 1918 (Conductor: Roberto Moranzoni)
	Suor Angelica
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	Topics Suor Angelica Topic Home *Suor Angelica* (*Sister Angelica) is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini* was an Italians composer whose operas, including La boh?me, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the List of important operas.... to an original Italian libretto Libretto A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet.... by Giovacchino Forzano Giovacchino Forzano Giovacchino Forzano was an Italy playwright, librettist, stage director, and film director. A resourceful writer, he produced opera librettos for most of the major Italian composers of the early twentieth century, including the librettos for Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi.... . It is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico Il trittico *Il trittico* is the title of a collection of three one-act operas, Il tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi, by Giacomo Puccini.... . It received its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director.... on December 14, 1918. le class="wikitable">
Sister Angelica	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Geraldine Farrar Geraldine Farrar Geraldine Farrar was a soprano opera singer and film actress. She had a large following among young women, who were nicknamed "Gerry-flappers"....
The Princess, her aunt	contralto Contralto In music, a contralto is a type of European classical music female voice type with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the deepest female singing voice....	Flora Perini Flora Perini Flora Perini was an Italian people operatic mezzo-soprano who had a prominent opera career in Europe, South America, and the United States during the first half of the twentieth century....
The Abbess	mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of European classical music female voice type whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above ....	Rita Fornia Rita Fornia Rita Fornia was an American opera singer. She began her career in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century singing coloratura soprano roles....
The Monitress	mezzo-soprano	Marie Sundelius
The Mistress of the novices	mezzo-soprano	Cecil Arden
Sister Genovieffa	soprano	Mary Ellis Mary Ellis Mary Ellis was a star of the British stage. She emigrated from America after appearing with the Metropolitan Opera, including opposite Enrico Caruso, and then acting on Broadway theatre, and began acting in England....
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 Minnie Egener Minnie Egener was an American operatic mezzo-soprano. She made her professional opera debut in 1904 at the Metropolitan Opera as one of the flower maidens in Richard Wagner's Parsifal....
A novice	soprano	Phillis White
The lay sisters	soprano and mezzo-soprano	Marie Tiffany and Veni Warwick
Offstage chorus of women, children, and men

Place: A convent near Siena

Siena

Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site....
.

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.

Discussion

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Encyclopedia

Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italians composer whose operas, including La boh?me, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the List of important operas....
to an original Italian libretto

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
by Giovacchino Forzano

Giovacchino Forzano

Giovacchino Forzano was an Italy playwright, librettist, stage director, and film director. A resourceful writer, he produced opera librettos for most of the major Italian composers of the early twentieth century, including the librettos for Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi....
. It is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico
Il trittico

Il trittico is the title of a collection of three one-act operas, Il tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi, by Giacomo Puccini....
. It received its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director....
on December 14, 1918.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 14 December 1918 (Conductor: Roberto Moranzoni)
Sister Angelica	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Geraldine Farrar Geraldine Farrar Geraldine Farrar was a soprano opera singer and film actress. She had a large following among young women, who were nicknamed "Gerry-flappers"....
The Princess, her aunt	contralto Contralto In music, a contralto is a type of European classical music female voice type with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the deepest female singing voice....	Flora Perini Flora Perini Flora Perini was an Italian people operatic mezzo-soprano who had a prominent opera career in Europe, South America, and the United States during the first half of the twentieth century....
The Abbess	mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of European classical music female voice type whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above ....	Rita Fornia Rita Fornia Rita Fornia was an American opera singer. She began her career in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century singing coloratura soprano roles....
The Monitress	mezzo-soprano	Marie Sundelius
The Mistress of the novices	mezzo-soprano	Cecil Arden
Sister Genovieffa	soprano	Mary Ellis Mary Ellis Mary Ellis was a star of the British stage. She emigrated from America after appearing with the Metropolitan Opera, including opposite Enrico Caruso, and then acting on Broadway theatre, and began acting in England....
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 Minnie Egener Minnie Egener was an American operatic mezzo-soprano. She made her professional opera debut in 1904 at the Metropolitan Opera as one of the flower maidens in Richard Wagner's Parsifal....
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

Siena

Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site....
.

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 to turn its water golden. This event causes the sisters to remember a sister who has died, Bianca Rosa. Sister Genevieve suggests they pour some of the golden water onto her tomb.

The nuns then 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 shepherd 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. The rumors have it 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 — Sister Angelica's specialty. Two touriers then arrive, bringing supplies to the convent, as well as news that a grand coach is waiting outside the convent. Sister Angelica immediately 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 then goes on to announce the visitor, the Princess, Sister Angelica's aunt.

The Princess explains that Angelica's sister is to be married to the man that used to be her lover and that Angelica must sign a document renouncing her claim to her inheritance. Angelica replies that she has repented for her sin, but there is one thing she cannot offer in sacrifice to the Virgin — she cannot forget the memory of her illegitimate son who was taken from her seven years ago. The Princess 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 herself a poison and drinks it, but realizes that in committing suicide she has damned herself. 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.

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Suor Angelica,The Princess, The Abbess, The Monitress, Sister Genovieffa)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1962	Renata Tebaldi Renata Tebaldi Renata Tebaldi was an Italian lirico-spinto soprano, popular in the post-World War II period. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved opera singers of all time, she primarily focused on the verismo roles of the lyric and dramatic repertoires.... , Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato is an Italy mezzo-soprano and one of the great singers of the post-war operatic stage. Her career spanned from the 1930s until her retirement in 1966.... , Lucia Danieli, Miti Trucato Pace, Dora Carral	Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory, especially the works of Giuseppe Verdi.... , Orchestra e coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino	Audio CD: DECCA Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... Cat: 411 665-2
1973	Dame Joan Sutherland Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, Order of Merit, Order of Australia, Order of the British Empire is an Australian voice type soprano noted for her contribution in the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.... , Christa Ludwig Christa Ludwig Christa Ludwig is a Germany retired mezzo-soprano, distinguished for her performances of opera and Lieder. Her career spanned from the late 1940s until the early 1990s.... , Anne Collins, Elizabeth Connell, Isobel Buchanan Isobel Buchanan Isobel Buchanan is a Scottish people opera soprano....	Richard Bonynge Richard Bonynge Richard Bonynge, Order of the British Empire , is an Australian conductor and pianist.He was born in Sydney, Australia and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London.... , National Philharmonic Orchestra	Audio CD: Decca Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... Cat: 458218
1994	Mirella Freni Mirella Freni Mirella Freni is an Italian opera soprano much admired for the youthful quality of her voice, her phrasing and thoughtful character interpretations and acting skills.... , Elena Souliotis Elena Souliotis Elena Souliotis was an operatic soprano initially hailed as "the next Maria Callas." Although her opera recordings were best sellers and she quickly achieved a glamorous and busy career, unwisely, she took on certain demanding roles too early, and damaged her voice by denying it the time it needed to develop and strengthen by natural stages... , Gloria Scalchi, Eva Podles, Barbara Frittoli Barbara Frittoli Barbara Frittoli is an Italian people soprano born in Milan in 1967 and graduated from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. She recorded La Boheme with tenor Andrea Bocelli which became the biggest selling opera recording of all time....	Bruno Bartoletti, Orchestra e coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino	Audio CD: DECCA Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... Cat: 436 261-2

Note: "Cat:" is short for catalogue number by the label company

Noted arias

Senza mamma — Suor Angelica

Suor Angelica

Roles

Synopsis

Selected recordings

Noted arias

External links