The Impresario & Le Rossignol 2014

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Synopsis
Artists

The Healing Power of Music…

Divas vie for a plum role while a producer struggles to cope with their rivalry and the stresses of work in the music business. That’s the scenario of Mozart’s brief, witty opera The Impresario, but it could also be a news story in The Hollywood Reporter. In these ingeniously framed productions, the stars’ rivalry centers on casting Stravinsky’s exquisite one-act opera Le Rossignol, which forms the second half of a perfectly balanced double-bill.

The Impresario takes us to 1920s Paris for the high stress auditions. Then, with the same cast, Le Rossignol enfolds us in Hans Christian Andersen’s poetic fable in which an emperor learns the lesson of humility. This production of Le Rossignol honors the centennial of the opera’s premiere in Paris, in 1914.

The Impresario Music By

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The Impresario Libretto By

Gottlieb Stephanie

Le Rossignol Music By

Igor Stravinsky

Le Rossignol Libretto By

Igor Stravinsky and Stepan Mitusov

The Impresario

The one-act opera The Impresario shares the trials and tribulations an impresario encounters in leading a group of traveling players. Otto van der Puff suggests to the impresario that he should sign the actors at low wages, and he recommends bribing the critics and disregarding artistic merit. The banker takes care of the finances for the impresario in return to have his mistress play a role in the production.

As the impresario begins to hold auditions, it is clear that Madame Vladimirescu and Madame Vocedoro-Gambalunghi are divas trying to outdo each other for the same role. The two women continue their rivalry and the competition heats up. When the impresario cannot choose and threatens to cancel the production, the singers decide that only through peaceful collaboration can art thrive.

Le Rossignol

Set in ancient China. The Fisherman acts as narrator for the story’s events.

Act I

Just before dawn, a Fisherman awaits the arrival of the singing Nightingale. The Cook arrives bringing court officials and says how the bird’s beautiful song makes her cry. The Chamberlain, unable to hear, tells her he will appoint her as private cook to the Emperor if she can find the bird. The Nightingale appears and the Cook and Chamberlain invite it to sing for the Emperor. The Nightingale accepts the invitation but reminds them that her sweetest song is in the forest.

Act II

Courtiers prepare the palace for the Nightingale’s song with lanterns. They ask the Cook about the bird and she responds that though the Nightingale appears plain, tears of happiness will flow from listeners’ eyes. The Emperor’s procession enters and he commands the bird to sing. The Emperor is moved by the beautiful singing and offers the bird a reward of a golden slipper. Three Japanese Envoys enter the palace and offer the Emperor a mechanical nightingale. The mechanical bird sings and the Nightingale flies away. The Emperor banishes it from the empire. He names the mechanical bird “first singer” in the court.

Act III

As the Emperor is dying and Death is near his side, the ghosts of his past deeds visit him. He calls for his court musicians, but instead the Nightingale appears – disregarding the banishment. Death hears the Nightingale sing and asks it to continue. The Nightingale agrees, but only if Death returns the crown, sword and standard to the Emperor. Death agrees and the Emperor offers the Nightingale the position of “first singer.” The Nightingale declines, stating that the Emperor’s tears are reward enough, and promises to sing each night from dusk until dawn.

The Impresario & Le Rossignol 2014

Synopsis

The Impresario

Synopsis

Le Rossignol

Act I

Act II

Act III

Artists

Erin Morley

Erin Morley

Brenda Rae

Brenda Rae

Anthony Michaels-Moore

Anthony Michaels-Moore

Bruce Sledge

Bruce Sledge

Meredith Arwady

Meredith Arwady

Kevin Burdette

Kevin Burdette

David Govertsen

David Govertsen

Jack Swanson

Jack Swanson

David Margulis

David Margulis

Shea Owens

Shea Owens

Kenneth Montgomery

Kenneth Montgomery

Michael Gieleta

Michael Gieleta

James Macnamara

James Macnamara

Fabio Toblini

Fabio Toblini

Christopher Akerlind

Christopher Akerlind

Andrzej Goulding

Andrzej Goulding

Seán Curran

Seán Curran

Susanne Sheston

Susanne Sheston

The Impresario & Le Rossignol 2014