UMS Concert Program, February 13, 1975: Goldovsky Grand Opera Theater -- Boris Goldovsky

Concert: Sixteenth
Complete Series: 3928
Power Center For The Performing Arts Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University Musical Society
of
The University of Michigan
Presents
Goldovsky Grand Opera Theater
BORIS GOLDOVSKY, Artistic Director
in Two OneAct Operas
Thursday Evening, February 13, 1975, at 8:00
Power Center for the Performing Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
THE PRODIGAL SON (L'Enfant prodigue)
Music by Claude Debussy
Produced, staged, and conducted by Boris Goldovsky Settings designed by John Jacobsen
Costumes by Ellen Pavelka Technical Director Aloysius Petruccelli
Cast oj Characters
Lia, Azael's Mother...........Sherry Zannoth
Azael, a young Galilean...........Melvyn Poll
Simeon, Lia's husband........Edward Thomas Payne
Three Dancers.......Nancy Falloon, Cheryl Clemson,
Victor Hilfreich In biblical times
INTERMISSION
THE NIGHT BELL (II Campanello)
Words and Music by Gaetano Donizetti
English version by Anthony Addison Staged by Boris Goldovsky and Martha Keeling
Cast of Characters Don Annibale Pistacchio, an elderly druggist .... Robert Becker
Serafina, his bride...........Sherry Zannoth
Madame Rosa, her mother.........Violet Hilfreich
Enrico, a young man about town......Edward Thomas Payne
Spiridione, Don Annibale's servant......Alexander Hilfreich
Wedding guests Members of the company
The action takes place in Naples at the end of the eighteenth century.
Sixteenth Program Fourth Annual Choice Series, Power Center Complete Programs 3928
The Prodigal Son
Debussy's setting of the short operatic episode, "The Prodigal Son," deals with the touching biblical story of the aged couple, Lia and Simeon, welcoming home their son, Azael, whose long absence has caused them untold grief.
Although the opera, which includes a dancing and singing ensemble, is heard only rarely in its entirety, the arias sung by the three principal characters are wellknown from concert performances. Particularly famous is Lia's song which is one of the most poignant of any soprano aria in the French repertoire.
The Night Bell
Don Annibale, an elderly druggist, has just married Serafina. The ceremony is interrupted by the appearance of her former suitor, the clever rake, Enrico. After the wedding festivities Don Annibale is eager to retire with his bride . . . but the persistent ringing of the "night bell" by the door of his shop prevents this. (Eighteenth century Neopolitan law insisted that the apothecary must at all cost answer his bell at any hour of the day or night.) The marriage not yet consummated, the sleepless druggist is summoned at dawn to Rome to witness the reading of a will. The frustrated Serafina is left to work things out as best she can.
COMING EVENTS
JeanPierre Rampal, Flutist, and
Robert VeyronLa Croix, Keyboard.....Tuesday, February 18
Harkness Ballet..........Thursday, February 20
Chhau, Masked Dance of Bengal.....Saturday, February 22
Moscow Balalaika Orchestra and Ludmila Zykina Monday, February 24
Paul Taylor Dance Company.......Wednesday, March 12
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra.....Saturday, March IS
Alain Lombard, conductor; JeanBernard Pommier, pianist
Qawwali Music from Pakistan.......Sunday, March 16
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pianist.......Wednesday, March 19
Ars Antiqua de Paris.........Saturday, March 29
Boston Symphony Orchestra........Saturday, April 5
Seija Ozawa, conductor; and the Festival Chorus
Featuring Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe"
Preservation Hall Jazz.........Wednesday, April 9
Spanish RTV Symphony Orchestra.......Friday, April 11
Enrique Garcia Ascensio, conductor; Narciso Yepes, guitarist
Rudolf Firkusny, Pianist (replacing Emil Gilels) . . . Sunday, April 13 Mozart: Variations on a Minuet by Duport, K. 573; Schumann: Fantasy in C, Op. 17; Janacek: On an overgrown Path (Part II); Chopin: Sonata in B minor, Op. 58
May Festival......Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
April 30, May 1, 2 & 3
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
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