JOAN SUTHERLAND IN WHO'S AFRAID OF OPERA?: THOMAS'S "MIGNON" (TV)
Summary
One in this occasional series in which popular operas are presented in a condensed, simplified format. In this program, Joan Sutherland presents Thomas's "Mignon," based on Goethe's novel "Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre." Sutherland and the cast perform excerpts from the opera, including shortened versions of "Connais-tu le pays?" and "Je suis Titania," and explain the storyline to three puppets who are "watching" the opera. The plot concerns Mignon (Tourangeau), a member of a band of traveling gypsies. Mignon, about to be beaten by one of the gypsies, is saved by Wilhelm (Casey), who buys her. When she realizes that an actress named Philine (Sutherland) loves Wilhelm, Mignon becomes jealous, and Wilhelm finally must ask her to leave. In despair, she wanders past the theater where Philine is performing Shakespeare, and meets Lothario (van der Stolk), a confused old man who is searching for his missing daughter. In his confused state of mind, he tries to help Mignon by burning down the theater, but she is caught inside. She is rescued by Wilhelm, who buys an old castle where she can recover. Lothario recognizes the castle as his former home, and, after examining several mementos, realizes that Mignon is his long-lost daughter.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: December 16, 1973 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T89:0345
- GENRE: Children's; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas - Excerpts; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Puppets
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1972-1973
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nathan Kroll … Producer, Created/Developed by, Produced and devised by
- Herbert Wise … Director
- Claire Merrill … Writer, Screenplay by
- Thomas, Charles Louise Ambroise … Composer
- Richard Bonynge … Conductor, Music (Misc. Credits), Music Director
- London Symphony Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Larry Berthelson … Created/Developed by, Puppets created by, Performer, Puppeteer
- Danny Seagren … Performer, Puppeteer
- Rod Young … Performer, Puppeteer
- Joan Sutherland … Cast, Philine
- Huguette Tourangeau … Cast, Mignon
- Ian Casey … Cast, Wilhelm
- Van der Stolk, Pieter … Cast, Lothario
- Brian Ralph … Cast, Laertes
- Gordon Wilcock … Cast, Jarn
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von