Toledo Opera will host its virtual Tuesday on Tuesday, October 4 at 5:30 p.m. This panel offers a fresh perspective on Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana, and explores thematic connections to contemporary life in Toledo.
The panel discussion will feature Maestro Geoffrey McDonald, conductor of Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana and director of Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana, Keturah Stickann. Additional panelists representative of the Toledo community will be announced shortly.
Alyssa Greenberg, Director of Community Engagement, shared “The Tuesday Talk for this double bill production was inspired by a conversation with Keturah Stickann, who is well known for her bold stagings of classical opera and as the host of Words First: Talking Text in Opera, a podcast discussing opera libretti and storytelling to music with librettists, lyricist, producers, performing artists, and other opera professionals. The storytelling in these two operas offer two views of women who were denied autonomy over their bodies and their choices. We look forward to opening a dialogue between opera professionals and Toledo community members that explores the collective experience of these cathartic stories, how opera audiences can draw strength from these characters, and the necessity of women’s autonomy and women’s’ freedom to make choices.”
More about Tuesday Talks: Tuesday Talks take place on the two Tuesdays prior to each Toledo Opera production. It is a series of free public panel presentations convening scholars, artists, and Toledo community members to discuss the contemporary relevance of key themes of each opera production.
More about Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana: Not seen by Toledo Opera audiences since 1982, Puccini’s Suor Angelica makes its triumphant return to the Valentine stage this fall paired with Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. Set in a convent in 17th century Italy, Suor Angelica deals with the hardship and social constructs placed on women who do not conform to the rules of society and religion on their everyday lives. Also dealing with societal and religious repression, Cavalleria Rusticana centers around the tempestuous relationship between villagers Santuzza, Turridu, Lola, and Alfio. Mascagni’s work is set in a 19th century Sicilian village. Both of these one-act operas end in tragedy and are conducted by Maestro Geoffrey McDonald and staged by director Keturah Stickann. Suor Angelica stars soprano Jill Gardner as Angelica and contralto Lauren Decker as the Principessa. Cavalleria Rusticana stars soprano Jill Gardner as Santuzza, tenor Brian Cheney as Turridu, baritone Corey Crider as Alfio, and contralto Lauren Decker as Mama Lucia, and Imara Miles as Lola.
This event is free and open to the public and can be accessed via Toledo Opera’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. For public registration to the event, please RSVP to Luke Serrano at lserrano@toledoopera.org. For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana is made possible by Key Bank Trustee Walter E. Terhune Memorial Fund. For more information about Suor Angelica & Cavalleria Rusticana please visit https://www.toledoopera.org/upcoming-performances/season-event/suor-angelica-cavalleria-rusticana. For more information on Toledo Opera, visit https://toledoopera.org.
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