NBC OPERA COMPANY: MARIA GOLOVIN (TV)
Summary
One in this series of NBC Opera Company productions. This production is of “Maria Golovin,” an English-language opera by Gian Carlo Menotti. The program begins with a young man, Donato, blinded in the war, building a birdcage as his mother observes the arrival of their new tenants, of whose fancy demeanor she disapproves. The new renters arrive: a woman, Madame Maria Golovin, her young son Trottolo, and Trottolo’s tutor, Dr. Zuckertanz. Donato meets Maria and attempts to befriend the nervous young boy, and the maid, Agata, deserves that the old home is a “sad place” for a child. Donato privately asks Agata if Maria is as beautiful as her voice suggests she is, but Agata is dismissive and hurries off to fix her “specialty” cake for the guests as Donato’s mother attempts to instruct Trottolo on the rules of the house. Maria and Donato talk and he reveals that there is a camp for prisoners of war down the road, which bothers her, as her own husband is currently imprisoned and she has not heard from him for some time. They commiserate over their share loneliness and Donato reveals that he lost his sight three years previously in the war, but still “always sees things” inside his mind. Maria offers to keep him company, reading and playing music, and she dreamily explains her love of painting as well. He tells her that he once dreamt of being an architect and shows her his birdcages, and gives her one as a gift. He requests to touch her face, saying it is “as harmless as a glance,” but she seems emotionally overwhelmed by his touch. Later, they all sit down to a meal and Dr. Zuckertanz frets over the loss of one of his beloved music records. When asked, Maria says that the birdcage is a gift for Trottolo, and Donato is hurt at her lie, displaying an aptitude for jealousy.
Four weeks later, however, Agata tells Donato of her suspicions about his affair with Maria as she prepares to leave for evening Mass. She casts aspersions on Maria’s “past,” but Donato angrily rebukes her and she leaves. Maria soon comes downstairs and embraces Donato passionately, and they resume their nightly ritual in which he teaches her to read Braille, this time offering her a message of love. He admits he is afraid of his feelings and explains how her voice makes him feel, and though she says that she loves him in return, he laments that she does not “belong” to him. He asks if this her “first unfaithfulness,” and she admits that she “misbehaved a little” with a younger man named Aldo who fell in love with her, but that it went no further than an innocent kiss. Donato becomes furious and demands details, wondering if Maria loves him out of pity as well. They are interrupted by Trottolo and Maria hides, panicking that her son may have seen them together, and Donato is further upset by her reaction.
Later, in the summer, Donato and Agata hear that a prisoner has escaped the camp and is on the run. Agata reveals that a letter has arrived for Maria and offers to help Donato discover its contents, and he refuses until he hears that it is from Aldo. Suddenly, the escaped prisoner arrives in their midst and asks that they hide him, and Donato agrees. Soon Maria, Dr. Zuckertanz, Trottolo and Donato’s mother arrive home from their day out, fatigued from the heat, and Trottolo is sent off to nap before attending festivities that evening. Donato’s mother comments that Trottolo has been spoiled and says that Maria has negatively affected Donato as well, and he explains his sense that she is not “bound” to him and loves another. Maria soon comes to Donato and he demands to know why she did not come to him the previous night, but she protests that Trottolo was spying on her. Upset, he tells her about her letter, and she claims it is from an old school friend. He is furious at her lie, but privately decides that he is glad to be “free” of his love for her. Later, the three women sew and discuss their lives, and Donato’s mother talks about the changes in her life since her husband’s death and her son’s injury. At night, Trottolo dresses up in a costume and heads off to a children’s party with Dr. Zuckertanz, and Donato continues brooding, finally declaring to Maria that he no longer loves her because he cannot trust her. When he confronts her about the letter, she swears it is innocent, and gives it to Agata to read aloud. The letter from Aldo reveals that she has been ignoring him and abandoned their romance, and Donato apologizes profusely, begging for forgiveness, but Maria leaves, overwhelmed. The prisoner appears and admits that he heard everything, and scolds Donato to think of the bigger picture and consider that there are others worse off, explaining the tale of his own sad life. Donato protests that they are both prisoners of sorts, but the man is distracted when he hears the jailers searching for him, and he quickly departs, leaving his gun behind.
Sometime later, Dr. Zuckertanz talks about art and complains about “romantic drivel,” naming his most favorite composers and writers. Donato’s mother plays the piano and Maria and Zuckertanz sing a duet, which seems to deeply affect Donato. Maria then receives another letter and is stunned to find that her husband has been released from the prison camp and will soon arrive. Donato asks if she will tell her husband about their love affair, and she says she is unsure. The women make plans for a homecoming party, and Donato’s mother orders Maria to leave for good immediately afterwards, saying she has “tortured” Donato for long enough. Maria admits her mistake and becomes upset, thinking of her own son experiencing heartbreak, and Donato’s mother apologizes for her harshness, saying that her son has become nearly “insane” in his obsession with Maria. When next they speak, he asks that she come to him at midnight after the party and is angered when she reveals that it is her birthday the next day. She agrees to join him, however, and they embrace as Maria beseeches him to trust her. But later that night, midnight passes and Maria does not come, much to Donato’s agitation. He sends his mother away and paces, pocketing the prisoner’s gun. Maria finally arrives, and he reprimands her for deceiving him. She declares that she is leaving forever the next day, and he pulls the gun on her, shouting for his mother’s assistance. She returns and silently bids Maria to move away as she directs Donato to shoot harmlessly at the wall. Donato collapses in grief, believing that he has killed her, and his mother comforts him, telling him he is now free. Maria, left alone, picks up a flower that he left on her “body” and mourns for everything that has happened. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 8, 1959
- RUNNING TIME: 1:47:48
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:02588
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music; Opera
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1958
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Samuel Chotzinoff … Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Gian Carlo Menotti … Music by
- Peter Herman Adler … Conductor
- Franca Duval … Cast, Maria Golovin
- Richard Cross … Cast, Donato
- Patricia Neway … Cast, The Mother
- Ruth Kobart … Cast, Agata
- Herbert Handt … Cast, Dr. Zuckertanz
- Chester Ludgin … Cast, The Prisoner
- Craig Sechler … Cast, Trottolo
- John Kuhn … Cast, The Servant