Preview of CCM Opera’s Spring Mainstage Production, Dialogues of the Carmelites
Photography by Mark Lyons
CCM Opera continues its season with the Spring mainstage production of Francis Poulenc’s masterpiece “Dialogues of the Carmelites” (Dialogues des carmélites). Based on a true story, this heartbreaking saga of martyred nuns runs from May 12-15, 2011 in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium. Conductor Mark Gibson and stage director Steven Goldstein collaborate on this intense, dramatic opera based on a true story. Learn more about the production at ccm.uc.edu/opera
Steven Goldstein
Director Steven Goldstein recognizes the beauty of the Carmelite’s story.
“The simplicity of the story is what’s gripping in the end. The storytelling Poulenc accomplishes draws an audience into the tragic story of how innocents were slaughtered for their pure beliefs, and how in that process grace is achieved,” explains Goldstein. He also feels that the basis of the plot-line on a true event also reveals a lesson on humanity. “Unfortunately, events such as this are repetitive historically, even to our days today. Dialogues of the Carmelites shows how a society can lose its moral center and become vicious.”
WVXU’s Anne Arenstein sat down with talked with the Steven about this CCM Opera production. Click here to listen to the interview online.
Photography by Mark Lyons
Danielle Messina, a second-year graduate student from Poughkeepsie, New York, plays Blanche in CCM’s production. She too sees the unique simplicity of Poulenc’s opera. “The fact that the opera is different from other operas is reflected in the name- Dialogues of the Carmelites. I think of Mozart operas where we have these great duets and great arias, but the music of Dialogues is a different take on opera. We’re not singing duets- we’re talking, sometimes giving monologues- and because of that, there’s a lot of listening involved. We’re trying to find this stoic, cloistered life not only in the plot-line, but in the music as well.”
Written over a four-year period and completed in 1957, Dialogues of the Carmelites follows the life of Blanche de la Force, a shy, aristocratic young woman who seeks refuge in a Carmelite nunnery during the French Revolution. The opera is based on the true account of the Martyrs of Compiègne, a group of 16 Carmelite nuns who were sent to their deaths during the Reign of Terror following the overthrow of the French monarchy.
Performance Dates
May 12-15, 2011
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 12-14, 8 p.m.
- Sunday, May 15, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Corbett Auditorium
Tickets: $27-$29 general admission, $17-$19 students
Ordering or Additional Information
Box Office: 513-556-4183 or boxoff@uc.edu
Opera Fusion: New Works, a collaboration between Cincinnati Opera & CCM Opera
Cincinnati Opera and CCM Opera are pleased to announce the establishment of a new joint venture, Opera Fusion: New Works, a program designed to support the development of new American operas.
Click here to visit Cincinnati Opera’s website and read the official press release.
Click here to read Janelle Gelfand’s article that details this exciting joint venture between Cincinnati Opera and CCM Opera.
Opera Fusion: New Works builds on an established and successful four-year partnership between Cincinnati Opera and CCM Opera. In 2007, Cincinnati Opera and CCM Opera launched The Corbett Foundation Opera Fusion program, created to promote and enhance young artist training opportunities, collaborative academic programming, internships, and an ongoing artistic relationship between the organizations. Opera Fusion: New Works, which is funded entirely by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, allows this existing relationship to expand into new areas. Opera Fusion: New Works will be jointly administered by representatives from each of the collaborating organizations. Marcus Küchle, Director of Artistic Operations of Cincinnati Opera, and Robin Guarino, J. Ralph Corbett Chair of CCM Opera, will act as co-artistic directors for the program.
