Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi

Giacomo Puccini

PERFORMANCE DATES: March 24, 27, 30 and April 1, 2012

Suor AngelicaSuor Angelica was Giacomo Puccini’s favorite of Il trittico, his three one-act operas. It is the moving story of a young woman from a noble family who becomes a cloistered nun. A visit from her aunt after seven years of silence brings Angelica a shocking and life-changing revelation. With the outstanding soprano Abla Hamza singing the role of Angelica in her Opera Southwest debut, the heartbreaking climax of this all-female miracle play is sure to be an inspiration.

Gianni SchicchiGianni Schicchi is the crafty con artist who outwits greedy relatives determined to rewrite a deceased man’s will in their favor. Filled with outrageous antics, this Puccini comedy stars Matthew Burns who returns to Opera Southwest following his acclaimed comic role as Taddeo in our 2010 production of Italian Girl in Algiers. The score features one of Puccini’s most beautiful and beloved arias, O mio babbino caro.

Enhance your opera experience by attending our popular 25-minute pre-opera presentations by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Anthony Barrese.  The talk begins 45-minutes before the performance and will familiarize you with major musical and dramatic aspects of the opera. Maestro Barrese situates the opera historically and summarizes the plot, including musical examples.  Free to ticket-holders in the Wells Fargo Theatre at the NHCC.

Learn more at our Pre-Opera Seminars. Click here for details.

Stage Directors – Kristen Barrett (Suor Angelica), David Bartholomew (Gianni Schicchi)
Conductor – Anthony Barrese
Scenic Designer – R. Keith Brumley for Des Moines Metro Opera

Suor Angelica – Abla Hamza
(Ms. Hamza’s appearance is made possible through a generous gift from Dr. Dean Yannias)
Suor Genovieffa – Amy Mahoney
Zia Principessa – Sharmay Musacchio
La Zelatrice – Cori Ellison
La maestra del novizie – Andrea Kiesling

Gianni Schicchi – Matthew Burns
Lauretta – Amy Mahoney
Zita – Sharmay Musacchio
Marco: Paul Bower
Nella – Cammy Cook
La Ciesca – Cori Ellison
Rinuccio – Donald L.C. Groves
Gherardo – Seth Hartwell
Betto – Jeff Keele
Simone – Jeremy Paul Milner