Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi Puccini
Archived: 2024/2025Overview
Sacrifice and schemes – a double opera delight
Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi are a perfect pairing of high emotion, intense drama, and black comedy. Suor Angelica weaves a poignant tale of sacrifice and redemption, when a young nun is sent to a convent to repent her sins, and Gianni Schicchi is full of unexpected twists, deception and greed as a family dispute over a missing will.
Directed by internationally renowned Director, Sir David McVicar (WNO’s La traviata), sublime music, including the much-loved O mio babbino caro, contrasts and complements in equal measure in this dramatic double bill.
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Explore behind the scenes
Leading production support from Colwinston Charitable Trust. 2024/2025 Season supported by Dunard Fund.
Good to know
Sung in Italian, with English and Welsh surtitles.
Under 16s
£10 when accompanied by a full price adult tickets (subject to availability)
Co-production with Scottish Opera
Synopsis
Synopsis – Suor Angelica
Setting: a convent
After an afternoon of prayers and chores, the nuns gather. The Sister Monitor scolds two postulants for not offering penance when they are late to the chapel. As the nuns relax before evening duties, they notice the setting sun has turned the water in their fountain golden. They remember Sister Bianca Rosa who died a year ago; Sister Genovieffa suggests that they pour some of the golden water on her tomb.
Talk turns to the nun’s desires. Genovieffa – a former shepherdess – wishes to see lambs again. Sister Dolcina wants something good to eat. Angelica is adamant she wishes for nothing. Immediately, the nuns begin gossiping – they know Angelica was sent to the convent by her wealthy family seven years ago, and it seems she was forced to make her vows as punishment for an undisclosed transgression. Angelica has not heard from them since.
The Infirmary Sister asks Angelica, the convent’s healer, to make a remedy for Sister Chiara’s wasp stings. A delivery arrives, along with news of a grand car waiting outside the gates. Angelica is immediately agitated and demands to know who it is. The Abbess urges Angelica to calm herself before showing in the visitor – Angelica’s aunt, the Princess, who raised her and her sister after their parents’ death.
The Princess explains that Angelica’s sister is to be married and Angelica must sign over her claim to the inheritance before the wedding can take place. Angelica replies that she has asked the Virgin Mary to forgive her sins but she cannot offer everything to God – most importantly, she cannot forget the memory of her son, born out of wedlock, who was taken from her when she was sent to the convent. She asks her aunt for news of him. The Princess initially refuses to answer and then reveals the child died of a fever two years ago. Angelica collapses, sobbing, and signs the document. The Princess leaves without a word.
Angelica grieves her son, overwhelmed that she could not comfort him as he died. She believes her son is calling to her from among the angels. Swearing to meet him in paradise, she makes herself a poison from her herbs. As soon as she drinks the poison, she is struck with horror and realises she will be condemned to hell by her suicide. She begs the Virgin Mary for mercy, and – as the nuns pray in the chapel – she sees a vision of her son.
Synopsis – Gianni Schicchi
Setting: the house of Buoso Donati, Florence
Buoso Donati has just died. His relatives gather around his bed, ostensibly to pay their respects, but all their eyes are on the contents of his will. A rumour that Buoso intended to leave his entire wealth to a monastery sets off a frenzied search. Rinuccio finds the will but holds it out of reach until Zita gives her blessing for him to marry Lauretta, daughter of Gianni Schicchi. Zita agrees, Rinuccio sends Gherardino to bring Gianni and Lauretta, and Zita opens the will.
The relatives are shocked and devastated to read that Buoso has indeed left his fortune to the monastery. Rinuccio suggests Gianni could save the family. Gianni arrives, shrewdly grasping the situation but swearing not to help after Zita hurls insults at him. Lauretta begs him to change his mind. Moved – and seeing an opportunity – Gianni sends his daughter out so she will not know his scheme. He confirms no one outside knows that Buoso is dead. The group are moving the body when Spinelloccio knocks; Gianni jumps into bed and hides, telling the doctor that ‘Buoso’ is feeling much better. Swearing a sick person has never died on his watch, Spinelloccio departs.
Gianni unveils his master plan. The group have established Spinelloccio’s belief that Buoso is still alive; therefore, Gianni will impersonate Buoso in disguise and dictate a new will to a notary. All are delighted and begin peppering Gianni with requests. The most coveted are the mule, the house, and the mills at Signa. Suddenly a funeral bell rings; to their relief, it rings for the death of a neighbour’s servant. The relatives cannot settle on whose case is strongest for the mule, house, and mills so agree to let Gianni decide. Before taking his place, Gianni issues a grave warning: the punishment for falsifying a will is the loss of a hand and immediate exile.
The notary arrives and ‘Buoso’ declares ‘his’ previous will null and void. He begins by allocating minor bequests to the gathered relatives. When he gets to the mule, house, and mills, he bequeaths them all to his ‘devoted friend Gianni Schicchi’. The relatives are outraged but can say nothing. When the notary leaves, the relatives loot what they can carry and Gianni chases everyone out of what is now his house. Lauretta and Rinuccio sing of their love. Moved by his daughter’s happiness, Gianni turns to the audience and asks them to agree that securing the young couple’s future is the best possible use of Buoso’s wealth.
