Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Giacomo Puccini

Time&Date:16:00:00/19:00:00/20:30:00 12/10/2008
Venue：Forbidden City Concert Hall
Price(RMB)：50;180;280;380;480VIP

Casting
　　Il tabarro
　　Xiaoyong Yang (Michele)
　　Song Wei (Luigi)
　　Xintong Li (Giorgetta)
　　Suor Angelica
　　Xiaoying Xu (Angelica)
　　Rui Chen (Principessa)
　　Gianni Schicchi
　　Feng Zhang (Gianni Schicchi)
　　Huiyong Zhang/ Yufei Xiong (Lauretta)
　　Liming Chi (Rinuccio)

Shanghai Opera Company
Zhang Guoyong, conductor
Kingman Lo, director

Giacomo Puccini
Descended from a family of musicians, Puccini was the most important Italian opera composer in the generation after Verdi. He was born and educated in Lucca, later studying under Ponchielli at the Milan Conservatory. He began his career as a composer of opera with Le Villi, on the story familiar from Adam's ballet Giselle, but first won significant success in 1893 with Manon Lescaut. A musical dramatist of considerable power, if sometimes lacking in depth, he wrote in all twelve operas, the last, Turandot, still unfinished at the time of his death in 1924.

Kingman Lo
Kingman Lo  is one of the most compelling opera directors in Asia.He graduated from the University of Hong Kong , and was awarded an Italian Government Scholarship to study at the University of Rome . He later undertook training in stage design and direction in the opera theatres of Rome .Since back to Hong Kong,he applied himself to local culture development,art education,music and operas.Kingman Lo is an extremely active practitioner in the field of performing arts. He has written, directed and designed extensively for the stage with over 150 productions of drama, opera and dance to his credit. From 1993 to 2004,he was the president of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In recognition of his contribution to international arts and cultural developments, Kingman Lo has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts of Britain, Honorary Fellow of the University of Hong Kong , University Fellow of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Honorary Professor of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, and awarded the title of Cavaliere of the Order of Merit by the Republic of Italy, Chevalier of the Order of the Arts and Letters by the French Republic, Member of the Order of the British Empire and Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong Government.

Giacomo Puccini: Three One-Act Operas Il tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi

Il tabarro
tabarro (The Cloak) is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami, based on Didier Gold's La Houppelande. It is the first of the trio of operas known as Il trittico.

Synopsis

While the stevedores work unloading the barge, Michele wonders if his wife Giorgetta is still faithful. She serves wine to the workers, and they dance to the music of an organ grinder. Frugola enters, looking for her husband. She shows everyone the fruits of her shopping in Paris and scolds the men for their drinking. Luigi laments his lot in life. He remembers with Giorgetta their old neighborhood. Michele refuses to take Luigi to Rouen. Luigi arranges a secret rendez-vous with his lover Giorgetta before leaving. Michele reminisces with Giorgetta of the days before their child died, how all three would fit under his cloak. He knows she is straying, but wants to win her back. Luigi, thinking that Michele's lit pipe is Giorgetta's signal, returns to the barge and is confronted by Michele. Michele forces Luigi to confess his affair, then kills him, hiding the body under his cloak. When Giorgetta returns, he opens wide the cloak, revealing her dead lover.

Suor Angelica
Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an original Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico.

Synopsis
Place: A convent near Siena.
Time: The latter part of the 17th century.
The opera opens with scenes showing typical aspects of life in the convent — all the sisters sing hymns, the Monitor scolds two lay-sisters, everyone gathers for recreation in the courtyard. The sisters rejoice because, as the Mistress of Novices explains, this is the first of three evenings that occur each year when the setting sun strikes the fountain to turn its water golden. This event causes the sisters to remember a sister who has died, Bianca Rosa. Sister Genevieve suggests they pour some of the golden water onto her tomb.

The nuns then discuss their desires — while the Monitor believes that any desire at all is wrong, Sister Genevieve confesses that she wishes to see lambs again, and Sister Dolcina wishes for something good to eat. Sister Angelica claims to have no desires, but as soon as she says so, the nuns begin gossiping — Sister Angelica has lied, because her true desire is to hear from her wealthy, noble family, whom she has not heard from in seven years. The rumors have it that she was sent to the convent in punishment.

The conversation is interrupted by the Infirmary Sister, who begs Sister Angelica to make an herbal remedy — Sister Angelica's specialty. Two touriers then arrive, bringing supplies to the convent, as well as news that a grand coach is waiting outside the convent. Sister Angelica immediately becomes nervous and upset, thinking rightly that someone in her family has come to visit her. The Abbess chastises Sister Angelica for her inappropriate excitement and then goes on to announce the visitor, the Princess, Sister Angelica's aunt.

The Princess explains that Angelica's sister is to be married and that Angelica must sign a document renouncing her claim to her inheritance. Angelica replies that she has repented for her sin, but there is one thing she cannot give the Virgin — she cannot forget the memory of her (illegitimate) son who was taken from her seven years ago. The princess refuses to speak, but finally informs Sister Angelica that her son died of fever. Sister Angelica, devastated, signs the document and collapses in tears. The Princess leaves.

Sister Angelica is seized by a heavenly vision — she believes she hears her son calling for her to meet him in paradise. She makes herself a poison and drinks it, but realizes that in committing suicide she has damned herself. She begs the Virgin Mary for mercy and, as she dies, she sees a miracle: the Virgin Mary appears, along with Sister Angelica's son, who runs to embrace her.

Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, based on a story that is referred to in Dante's The Divine Comedy. It is the third of the trio of operas known as Il trittico.
Synopsis

Buoso Donati has died in bed. His relatives mourn melodramatically, until they hear the rumor that he has left all his money to the local monastery. They frantically search for the will. Rinuccio finds it, but refuses to release it to his aunt Zita until she agrees to his terms. If the will is favorable to him, she must allow him to marry Schicchi's daughter, Lauretta. After consenting, she reads the will, and he sends for Schicchi. When the will confirms the rumor, everyone is furious. They refuse to allow Rinuccio to marry. What can be done?! Schicchi and Lauretta arrive to a cold reception. Rinuccio insists that Schicchi can solve their problem, and they reluctantly agree to let him try. Schicchi sends his daughter away. After hearing that no one else knows of the death, he tells the arriving doctor that Donati is feeling better and that his services are no longer needed. Rinuccio runs for the notary. Schicchi will impersonate Donati and dictate a new will. The relatives agree to the division of the property, except for Donati's mule, mills, and house. They agree to let Schicchi decide who will inherit those items, but, one by one, they return to bribe him. Schicchi reminds all of the penalty for forgery. The notary arrives. While the relatives fume, Schicchi grants the mule, mills, and house to himself. After the notary leaves, he throws everyone out, and they are helpless to do anything. Now that Lauretta has a dowry, there is no obstacle to her marriage to Rinuccio. Schicchi asks for the audience's indulgence.