Susannah, by Carlisle Floyd, is performed frequently in the United States, but has rarely been presented in Toronto. Toronto City Opera are bringing a fully staged production to the Al Green Theatre February 22 to 25.
In fact, Floyd’s work is the second most frequently performed American opera, after Porgy and Bess. It’s story, while steeped in American culture, is relevant anywhere as a study mob rule can be twisted to dark purposes.
The Opera
The story comes from an Apocryphal book of the bible. Originally part of the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, the story of Susanna and the Elders concerns a woman who’s falsely accused of adultery after being blackmailed by two men who spy on her as she bathes, (proving #MeToo goes back millennia). St. Jerome took it out of his official Latin version of the Bible some time between A.D. 383 and 404.
Carlisle Floyd’s opera follows the story of Susannah Polk, a girl from the small town of New Hope Valley, Tennessee. The Reverend Olin Blitch, at first ostensibly concerned about her, develops a sexual obsession, but of course, it is the girl who pays the price. She’s publicly denounced and ruined. Susannah’s brother Sam then turns his mind to revenge on the Reverend and Elders who caused her ruin…
It’s clearly a story meant for operatic treatment.
The opera was composed in two acts, with a libretto also written by Carlisle Floyd. At the time he wrote it, he was teaching piano at Florida State University.
It premiered in 1955, delivering a message during the oppressive McCarthy era. Susannah was given a revival in the 1990s, and became a signature role of American soprano Renée Fleming. She has incorporated two of its popular arias, “The Trees on the Mountains” and “Ain’t it a Pretty Night” in her regular repertoire.
The Cast
Olin Blitch: Dylan Wright | Bass-baritone Dylan Wright is an experienced performer whose repertoire includes opera, oratorio, art song and drag.
Little Bat: Alexander Cappellazzo | With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Opera from Montreal’s McGill University, Alex is a member of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society.
Sam Polk: Joshua Clemenger | Tenor Joshua Clemenger’s education in theatre began with the Theatre Aquarius Performing Arts Programme in Hamilton, Ontario. He subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Western Ontario.
Susannah Polk (Feb 22, 25): Lauren Estey Jovanovic | Soprano Lauren Estey hails from Quispamsis, New Brunswick. She decided on a career in opera while singing as a young chorister with Opera New Brunswick’s productions of Tosca and La Traviata. Her early education came from private lessons, including teachers such as Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, before earning a BMus at Dalhousie University. She later received a MMus of Vocal Performance and Literature at the University of Western Ontario.
Susannah Polk (Feb. 24): Christina Bell | Soprano Christina Bell is a native of Goderich, Ontario. A graduate from University of Toronto with a Diploma in Operatic Performance, she is a frequent performer in opera, oratorio and concert recitals across North America.
Other soloists include:
- Austin Larusson as Elder McLean
- Mike Fan 范祖铭 as Elder Gleaton
- Alvaro Vasquez as Elder Hayes
- Gabriel Sanchez Ortega as Elder Ott
- Maria Milenic as Mrs. McLean
- Alexandra Delle Donne as Mrs. Gleaton
- Alannah Beauparlantas Mrs. Hayes
- Amanda Weatherall as Mrs. Ott
Stage Director for the production is Melissa Morris, working with Artistic Director, and Conductor on Feb. 24 and 25, Jennifer Tung, and Music Director/Pianist Ivan Estey Jovanovic. Assistant Conductor Suzanne Yeo will take over the podium on Feb. 22.
The performance will be fully staged with piano accompaniment, and sung in the original English with English supertitles.
Find more information about the performance and tickets [HERE].
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