The Boston University College of Fine Arts ( http://www.bu.edu/cfa ) presents Francis Poulenc’s ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Poulenc ) Dialogues of the Carmelites, running April 19-22, 2012 on the main-stage of the Boston University Theatre at 264 Huntington Avenue.
The opera features conductor William Lumpkin ( http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/lumpkin ), stage director Sharon Daniels ( http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/daniels ), singers from the BU School of Music Opera Institute ( http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/opera ) and Vocal Performance degree candidates, with the BU Chamber Orchestra. Production, scenic, costume, lighting design, build and run-crew are by students in the School of Theatre, assisted in all areas by the Huntington Theatre Company (http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/) and distinguished faculty (http://www.bu.edu/cfa/theatre/about).
The opera will be sung in English. Details and tickets are available at: http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=11134&src=t or via 617.933.8600.
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A poignant and tragic look at the French Revolution from the viewpoint of a young girl of noble standing, who has entered the monastery at Carmel in Compiegne to find a “life that is heroic,” only to witness the revolution unfold around her and to be caught up in it.
The opera is based on the true story of the 16 sisters and lay workers of the Carmelite convent at Compiegne, France, who defied the dictates of the revolution even after their order was dissolved, meeting in secret to worship. They were ultimately martyred at the guillotine in Paris, just 10 days before Robespierre himself succumbed, ending the Reign of Terror.
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While the story is true, the Poulenc opera and its libretto by Georges Bernanos is inspired by a novella by Gertrude von la Forte, who based her work on the memoirs of a surviving Carmelite, Marie de L’Incarnation. Von la Forte created the central character of Blanche de la Force whose faith empowers her to overcome her struggle with pathological fear.
