Going to see Don Giovanni was a new experience for me. Never had I been to an opera, but now I have been to two! As I sat in LeFrak Concert Hall tonight, I couldn’t help but compare the two operas. The stage set-up for Suor Angelica particularly caught my attention; the orchestra was right on the stage taking up most of the space, and there really wasn’t much of a set to create a convent (where the opera takes place). The orchestra for Don Giovanni was away in a pit, almost no where to be seen (at least from my seat). While this was most likely done due to a lack of space, I found it very enjoyable, because it added to the emotions of the actors. The music itself does this, but seeing the musicians increase the speed of their movements added to the effect.
Suor Angelica is about a woman, Sister Angelica, who had been forced into a convent seven years ago for giving birth to a child out of wedlock. She finds out from her aunt, the Principessa (who is played by the woman, Francesca Lunghi, who came in to our class to sing her aria for us), that her son had died two years ago. Sister Angelica then drinks a poison in order to kill herself and go to heaven to see her son. She realizes last minute that committing suicide is a sin and would keep her from heaven, so she cries out for salvation. During the part when Sister Angelica finds out that her son is dead, she falls over in tears and the Principessa is still as if to put the focus on the orchestra which is moving violently as the music speeds up and gets louder. This climax was definitely my favorite scene because I was able to see the orchestra as a part of it. Furthermore, even though there wasn’t a big stage set, the costumes were very realistic and effective, and lights were put to excellent use in creating the effects of glass windows in the chapel.
In the end, Sister Angelica is forgiven and allowed to go to heaven with her son. Just like in Don Giovanni, there is an arguably happy ending. Sister Angelica dies, but she is with her son; Don Giovanni ruined many lives, but he does die. Lastly, in both operas, a higher being comes to judge the vulnerable people.
I enjoyed both operas very much! It was pretty cool that Suor Angelica was being performed right on our campus.
The parallels between Giovanni and Suor can be summarized as follows: Don Giovanni defies the rule of law and a moral life, Suor Angelica repents and begs forgiveness and seek redemption. Each receives what they deserve (interesting that a statue comes to life to dole out the punishment/reward.) Justice and redemption are powerful emotions made more powerful by the intense singing and playing of these operas. More than just a way to pass the time listening to pretty music, operas such as these allow us to confront our own values.