Introducing new and younger audiences to Opera with a modern twist on
Giacomo Puccini’s one-act comedy, Gianni Schicchi, sung in English

This pilot presentation is set to introduce classic operas that have withstood the test of time.  There are a number of operas that are as relevant and entertaining today as they were when they were first introduced many years ago.  They are timeless classics.  Many of the composers that were writing in past centuries were writing with constraints.  Composers had to deal with strict censorship, deep seeded traditions, audience tastes and sensibilities.  In many cases, there were very strict formulas that composers had to abide by to be successful.  Although the great composers fought hard to tear down these restrictions, a number of these composers were only fully recognized for their genius posthumously.

Through the years, opera has acquired a rather dubious reputation.  Such perceptions as: “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings” – overly large singers with horns protruding from their heads carrying spears, wearing armor or tights and singing in foreign languages.  Many people shy away from opera using traditional clichés such as: “I won’t understand it,” “I don’t want to be bored,” “why should I spend that kind of money when I don’t know what they are singing?” Today,  those early constraints no longer exist.  We believe that people can enjoy the great classics with the help of supertitles, pre-curtain talks and savvy staging.

We would like to invite young teens and adults to experience our art form.  Boheme Opera will perform this educational component, followed by our staging of Puccini’s delightful comic one-act opera, Gianni Schicchi – all in the George Washington Ballroom of the Trenton War Memorial.  The story of Gianni Schicchi has its roots in the brilliant classic of Dante’s Inferno.  Boheme’s production will be modernized and the audience will hear the libretto in English to catch all the comedic lyrics.

Students attending on March 5, 11am, will have received a list of opera terminology, a brief history of opera, special insight on Gianni Schicchi and Puccini, a set of job descriptions for all behind-the-scenes professional personnel, and a bird’s eye view of their preparation for opera theater.

Before the opera performance, a brief skit to be presented by two young actors, will actually piece the production together before the audience.  High school students attending would receive a fast forward view of how the different elements of a production come together for a finished product – narrated by students.  The set pieces and furniture will be put in place, props will be distributed, performers will have their makeup applied, etc., and the audience will feel as if they are with the production from the beginning of its conceptualization.  While the physical production is coming together, our two young actors will give a very brief overview of why each backstage professional is so important.

There will then be a brief intermission of five minutes, followed by Gianni Schicchi.  During the brief intermission, our young narrators will give a quick synopsis of the one-act opera, and then they will become part of the cast of the production. For the student performance, there will be a brief question-and-answer period with the cast and professionals.

Synopsis of Gianni Schicchi

Comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini.
Libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, after Canto XXX of the Inferno in Dante’s La Divina Commedia, The Divine Comedy.

First Performance:  New York – December 14, 1918

Plot:  Florence, originally in 1299, updated to 2009.  The greedy relatives gathered at the deathbed of the deceased Buoso Donati, led by the oldest relatives Simone and Zita, are horrified to discover that Buoso has left his entire fortune to a monastery.  They connive by asking the wily Gianni Schicchi, whose daughter Lauretta loves Buoso’s nephew, Rinuccio, to help them make a new will, giving him detailed instructions as to how everything is to be distributed amongst them.  Schicchi dresses up as the old Buoso and gets into his bed.  When the lawyer arrives, Schicchi dictates Buoso’s will, and but for the house which he wills to the young lovers, bequeaths everything to his ‘good friend Gianni Schicchi!”