Il trittico in Concert Puccini
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The best things come in threes
Buckle up as Puccini’s trio of one-act operas, Il trittico, takes you on an unforgettable rollercoaster of high emotion, intense drama, and black comedy. For one night only this concert performance brings together wonderful guest singers with the internationally acclaimed WNO Chorus and Orchestra for a truly special evening at New Theatre Oxford.
Il tabarro (The Cloak) gazes upon an unhappy marriage with murderous consequences, Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) follows a nun’s sacrifice and familial yearning when sent to a convent to repent her sins, and Gianni Schicchi is full of deception and greed as a family dispute over a missing will.
Sublime music, including much-loved O mio babbino caro, contrasts and complements in equal measure. Revel in an extraordinary evening where emotions soar and the magic of Puccini’s masterpieces come to life on the concert stage.
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Leading production support from Colwinston Charitable Trust. 2024/2025 Season supported by Dunard Fund.
Good to know
Running time approximately three hours and 35 minutes including two intervals
Sung in Italian, with English surtitles
Under 16s
£10 when accompanied by a full price adult tickets (subject to availability)
Synopsis
Synopsis – Il tabarro
Setting: on the banks of the Seine, Paris
Barge owner Michele and his stevedores unload their cargo after a long day of work. Giorgetta, Michele’s wife, rewards the workers with wine. The stevedores and Giorgetta dance to the music of a passing organ grinder, Giorgetta and Luigi breaking apart when Michele emerges from the cabin.
Giorgetta asks her husband if they still plan to travel in search of work, and if their crew will come with them. Michele is not certain about Luigi but decides to keep him on as a worker. There is tension between husband and wife underscoring their affection. A song seller entertains midinettes in the distance. Michele leaves to walk along the quay.
La Frugola stops by looking for her husband Talpa; she shows Giorgetta her salvages from a day of scavenging and scolds Tinca for drinking. Luigi laments his hardscrabble life. Everyone starts to go their separate ways for the night. Michele returns, asking Luigi to help him with tomorrow’s job. Giorgetta and Luigi reminisce about their youth in the city, where they grew up in the same neighbourhood – almost carried away by their passion. Giorgetta urges her lover to act with caution.
Luigi asks Michele to take him to Rouen and leave him to find work. Michele refuses, saying there is no good work there. As soon as Michele goes into the cabin Giorgetta rushes to Luigi, demanding why he asked to leave. Luigi answers that he cannot stand to see her married to another. Carefully, the lovers plan a tryst later that night, which Giorgetta will signal with a lit match. Luigi leaves.
Michele re-emerges. He reminisces to Giorgetta about life before their baby died, when he could cover his whole family under his cloak. Giorgetta tries to assuage his anxiety, before going to rest below deck. Two young lovers pass by. Alone, Michele ponders how their lives have changed so much. He strikes a match for his pipe. Luigi, thinking it is Giorgetta’s signal, approaches the barge. Michele confronts Luigi; after forcing him to confess his affair, Michele kills Luigi and hides the body under his cloak.
Giorgetta returns, apologising for their fight. Michele waits for her to come to him before revealing her dead lover.
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.