Symphonic, melodramatic sounds filled the intimate space inside Bryant-Jordan Hall over the weekend as the UA Opera Theatre and the Huxford Symphony Orchestra collaborated to take on Giacomo Puccini’s opera, “Suor Angelica.”
The performance, directed by associate director of opera Laura Pritchard, was preceded by the orchestra’s arrangement of a chamber orchestra piece by French composer Jean Françaix and a baritone duet arranged by Huxford Symphony Orchestra conductor Ransom Wilson.
“Suor Angelica” is an hour-long one-act opera that debuted in 1918 as part of “Il trittico,” his trio of one-act operas. The story follows Sister Angelica, a woman forced to become a nun after having an illegitimate child, alongside her sisters in an Italian convent. After Angelica’s aunt visits with the news of her son’s death, she drinks poison, prays for forgiveness and experiences a miraculous vision of her son as she dies.
Despite the story’s dated context and Italian language many may not understand, except with the help of subtitles, each performer made the story’s meaning clear with body language cues and text painting through song.
The production’s quality stemmed largely from its quick turnaround. Mallory Harrison, a doctoral candidate of musical arts studying flute performance and flute player in the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, said that the opera had been in the works for about a month.
“The most challenging part is probably putting it together with the singers and the orchestra,” she said. “We both practice our parts separately, but then we have something that’s called a sitzprobe, and that’s a rehearsal where it’s the first time that we get together and they sing through the entire opera and we play through the entire thing.”
Both Harrison and audience members said they appreciate the opera program the University offers and deeply enjoy the performances. “Suor Angelica” was a hit among opera newcomers and seasoned attendees alike.
“They were all incredibly talented,” said Riley McGrath, a junior majoring in neuroscience. “I’ve never seen an opera before, so I was blown away. They did a great job.”
Cas Lisko, a doctoral student in English literature, regularly attends the University’s opera performances and introduced her friends to the art.
“I’ve been to every UA Opera Theatre production since I started grad school in 2022,” she said. “This one did not disappoint. I’ll be back for the next one.”
