NBC OPERA: SUOR ANGELICA (TV)
Summary
One in this series of NBC Opera Theatre productions. This production is an English-language version of Puccini's "Suor Angelica" (or "Sister Angelica"), the second in a trio of operas known as "Il trittico." The program begins in an Italian convent in 1680 as the nuns sing their evening prayers. The abbess scolds a pair of nuns for being late and encourages them to do their penance. Another young nun talks happily about how it is the first of three evenings every year on which the setting sun seems to turn the water in the courtyard fountain to gold, which they interpret as a sign of God's grace. They remember another, Sister Bianca, who has recently died. The talk then turns to their desires and the dangers of temptation, and one woman talks about her childhood as a shepherd and missing her former life. When asked, Sister Angelica denies having any unfulfilled desires, but the others say that she secretly misses and wonders about her family, whom she has not seen in seven years. Another nun enters and begs Angelica to make her a remedy for a friend who has been hurt, and she gives her the proper herbs as the others comment on her talent for creating natural cures. Donated supplies soon come in, and the nuns are pleased, indulging briefly in some almonds. Suddenly, they hear that a visitor has arrived in an elegant carriage, and they speculate about who it could be. The abbess enters and reveals that Angelica's aunt, a princess, has come to see her, and reminds her to be humble and obedient in her dealings with her relative, as the Virgin Mary is always watching.
Angelica goes to meet her aunt, who is in charge of the family fortune since Angelica's parents' death, and she orders her niece to sign a document renouncing her inheritance. She states that Angelica's sister is to be married, and she reacts with happiness. When she asks about the groom, her aunt coldly says that he is someone who can forgive the shame that Angelica brought on the family. Angelica reacts very emotionally, and it is revealed that she had an illegitimate son before entering the convent. She begs her aunt for news of the boy, and the princess finally reveals that he died of an illness several years previously. Angelica is devastated, but she signs the form before collapsing in tears. Left alone, she mourns her child, whom she now believes is an angel in heaven. The other nuns come to her and assure her that her prayers will be heard, but later that night she steals out to the courtyard again alone. Using her herbal talents, she makes a poison to "ease suffering" and drinks it down so she may reunite with her son, but then is horrorstruck at her commitment of a mortal sin. She appeals to a statue of the Virgin Mary and begs for forgiveness, and she sees it move and welcome her with open arms. A vision of her young son also appears to her, and with a smile, she dies.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 7, 1953 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:15199
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music; Opera; Nuns
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1949-1964
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Samuel Chotzinoff … Producer
- Charles Polacheck … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Giacomo Puccini … Writer
- Elaine Malbin … Cast, Sister Angelica
- Winifred Heidt … Cast, The Princess
- Joan Moynagh … Cast, Sister Genevieve
- Virgina Viney … Cast, The Abbess
- Sandra Warfield … Cast, The Monitor
- Ruth Kobart … Cast, The Mistress of Novices
- Carole O'Hara … Cast, The Nurse
- Alice Fraser … Cast, Sister Dolcina
- Frances Paige … Cast, The First Provider
- Dorothy Candee … Cast, The Second Provider
- Florence Forsberg … Cast, A Novice
- Jean Castle … Cast
- Arlyne Frank … Cast
- Joyce Gill … Cast
- Ethel Greene … Cast
- Jacqueline Langee … Cast
- Rosalia Maresca … Cast
- Jean Ray … Cast
- Elsa Rosner … Cast
- Dina Soresi … Cast
- Margaret Tynes … Cast
- Cataline Zandueta … Cast