GREAT PERFORMANCES: LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: NEW YORK CITY OPERA: GIAN CARLO MENOTTI: THE SAINT OF BLEECKER STREET (TV)
Summary
One in this series on the performing arts. In this installment -- one in a series of live broadcasts from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City -- the New York City Opera performs this Pulitzer Prize-winning, English-language opera by Gian Carlo Menotti. Set in an Italian-American neighborhood in New York City, the opera focuses on the relationship between Annina, a devout young woman revered within the community as a saint, and her brother, Michele, who has a violently skeptical attitude toward religion. In Act I, neighbors have gathered on Good Friday to witness Annina having a vision of Christ's crucifixion. Michele arrives and disperses the crowd. He rebukes Don Marco, the parish priest, for encouraging the fanatical neighbors to prey on his innocent sister. Several months later, as the community prepares for the Feast of San Genarro, Annina complies with Michele's wishes and remains behind with her friend Carmela, who reveals that she is engaged to Salvatore, and Annina speaks of her ardent desire to become a nun. Neighbors tell Annina that the crowd is clamoring for her to lead the procession, and they criticize Michele for withholding his permission. Annina warns Michele against antagonizing the overwrought mob, but to no avail -- three men converge on him and chain him to a fence as the crowd bears Annina away. Michele's girlfriend, Desideria, releases the battered Michele and cradles him in her arms.
During intermission, host Beverly Sills discusses the history of the award-winning opera and interviews its composer, Gian Carlo Menotti. Sills and Menotti discuss past productions of Menotti's operas, the "artistic gypsy" nature of Menotti's life, his emigration to and musical education in the U.S., the passing of Italy's golden age of music, his preference for writing English-language operas, the expectations of American audiences, the symbolism in "The Saint of Bleecker Street," and (after a pause during which Sills promotes a free souvenir program offer) the casting of this production. Sills and Menotti are briefly joined by leads Enrico Di Giuseppe and Catherine Malfitano, who persuade Menotti and Sills to participate as extras in the opera's next scene. In Act II, the community assembles at a local restaurant to celebrate Carmela and Salvatore's wedding. While the guests are in another room, Desideria, who has been excluded from the celebration and scorned because of her unmarried relationship with Michele, arrives uninvited and persuades Michele to allow her to join the party. A brawl ensues and the enraged Michele berates the guests for their intolerant attitude. Don Marco admonishes Michele for antagonizing the guests, who leave the restaurant. Annina tries to soothe her distraught brother as Desideria looks on in contempt. Goaded by jealousy, Desideria taunts Michele and accuses him of being in love with his sister. Incensed, he seizes a knife, stabs Desideria, and flees, leaving Annina to comfort her. As they pray, Desideria dies in Annina's arms, bringing Act II to its conclusion. During the intermission preceding Acts III and IV, director Francis Rizzo joins Sills and Menotti to discuss the opera production; Menotti and Rizzo discuss their working relationship and Menotti's exacting attitudes towards productions of his operas; when Rizzo leaves to check props, Menotti and Sills discuss Menotti's attitudes towards religion and mysticism. As Act III begins, a very sickly Annina waits outside a subway station for Don Marco, who has promised to bring her fugitive brother there to meet with her. When Michele arrives, Annina begs him to turn himself in.
Annina waits for Don Marco and Michele outside the subway station. After Michele refuses to turn himself in to the police, Annina tells him that she is dying and has decided to join a convent; horrified, Michele flees again. In Act IV, Annina, near death, awaits permission from the Church to take the veil. Don Marco presides as the neighbors gather to witness the sacred ceremony. As the frail Annina utters her vows, Michele bursts in and implores her to forsake her calling. Unable to halt the proceedings, he watches mutely as Annina, summoning all her strength, completes the rite and succumbs to death.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Edward John Noble Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 19, 1978 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:44:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:78728_001
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1973-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Goberman
- Emile Ardolino
- Francis Rizzo
- Beeb Salzer
- Hans Sondheimer
- Kirk Browning
- Alan Skog
- Gian Carlo Menotti
- Cal Stewart Kellogg
- John Pintavalle
- New York City Opera
- Lloyd Walser
- Beverly Sills
- Martin Bookspan
- Alan Baker
- Ron Boucher
- Harris Davis
- Irwin Densen
- De Rosa, Judith
- Di Giuseppe, Enrico
- Ken Dovel
- Don Henderson
- Lila Herbert
- Alan Kays
- William Ledbetter
- Catherine Malfitano
- Robert Scalese
- Jane Shaulis
- Alanna Smith
- Diana Soviero
- Martha Thigpen
- Charlott Thyssen
- Sandra Walker