March 2026 - dates TBA
Free open dress rehearsal with piano - date TBA
Free open dress rehearsal with orchestra - date TBA
Orchestra conducted by Scott Jackson
Wiley
Directed by Sabrina Palladino
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Download the PROGRAM (accessible PDF)
TBA
| Suor Angelica, a former noblewoman, now a nun | |
| La Principessa, her aunt | |
| The Abbess | |
| The Monitress | |
| Mistress of the Novices | |
| Sister Genovieffa | |
| Sister Osmina | |
| Sister Dolcina | |
| The nursing sister | |
| First Alms Sister | |
| Second Alms Sister | |
| A novice | |
| Two lay sisters | |
| Sister Lucille | |
| Madonna | |
| Child |
Covers: TBA
A cloistered convent.
Sister Angelica and two lay sisters have been late for chapel. Angelica has already done her penance, so the mistress of the novices imposes one on the lay sisters. The Monitor then chides some of the other sisters for minor transgressions, but allows the nuns to have some relaxation time in the garden before they must return to their labors. They enjoy the sight of the late afternoon sunlight falling upon the fountain.
The sisters’ talk turns to their lingering desires for the worldly pleasures they used to enjoy. Sister Angelica denies that she has any such desires, but the others know that she is lying, for she longs for some news of her family. She has been at the convent for seven years without hearing from them, and the sisters believe that she is a princess who was sent to the convent as a punishment for some mysterious transgression.
Their speculations are interrupted when a nursing sister rushes in and asks Sister Angelica, who is expert in such matters, for an herbal remedy to treat another nun who has been stung by a wasp. Then two alms-collecting nuns arrive with provisions. One of them announces that a rich-looking carriage is standing outside the convent gate. Angelica becomes anxious and asks her to describe the carriage in detail, but the nun can only say that it was very fine. The convent bell rings; Angelica begins to pray. The other nuns pity Angelica’s anxiety and tell her that they hope it is a visit from her family.
The Abbess enters and calls for Angelica, who begs to know who the visitor is. The Abbess commands her to calm herself. Angelica kneels to regain her composure. The Abbess then tells Angelica that her aunt, the Princess, has come to see her.
The Princess enters and, ignoring Angelica’s gestures of affection, immediately gets down to business. When Angelica’s parents died, the Princess became the guardian and trustee for Angelica and her younger sister, Anna Viola. Now Anna Viola is to be married, and the Princess demands that Angelica sign her inheritance over to her sister. When Angelica asks who her sister’s husband is, the Princess cruelly replies that he is one who is willing to overlook the disgrace that Angelica brought on the family. When Angelica accuses her of being hard-hearted, the Princess excoriates her and urges her to atone. Angelica replies that she has atoned by devoting herself to the Virgin Mary, but that she cannot forget her little son. She begs the Princess to tell her how he is. When the Princess does not answer, Angelica threatens that she will be damned for eternity. The Princess finally answers that two years before, he became seriously ill, and that everything was done to try to save him. Angelica, realizing that he is dead, falls to the ground, sobbing. Her aunt makes a gesture of compassion, but checks herself and prays instead. Angelica rouses herself and signs the document. The Princess takes it and leaves without a word.
Angelica grieves that her baby died without his mother to comfort him (“Senza mamma”). She can feel his presence and prays to die so that she can be with him. The nuns find her in a mystical transport of joy, for, she says, the Virgin’s grace has descended upon her. When they leave, she prepares an herbal poison for herself. She bids the convent farewell, for her son has called to her and she will join him in Heaven.
Angelica drinks the poison, but immediately regrets it, realizing that suicide is a mortal sin. She calls upon the Virgin for salvation. A celestial choir is heard praising the Virgin, who miraculously appears with Angelica’s child. The child approaches Angelica, who dies at his feet.
© 2012 Linda Cantoni