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Suor-Angelica

Suor Angelica

An Opera in One Act by Giacomo Puccini


Pradichaya Gafaae Poonyarit as Suor Angelica Pradichaya Gafaae Poonyarit as Suor Angelica Suor Angelica


Watch the opera



Wearing Angelica




My approach to doing a role is the same as my approach to putting on clothes. Here I am, at the ripe age of --fill in the blank-- with children, and walking around with a few (okay, many) pounds more than I need. How do I pick the clothes of the day? Easy: the clothes that fit comfortably and flatter me. When I was younger and a lot thinner, instead of simply being happy being "me" back then, I wasted it by continuing to buy clothes that were too small- and was miserable trying to fit into them. I probably wasted half of my life doing just that. Today, as I said, being older and- so-I-want-to-believe- wiser, it is my choice to wear only clothes that fit me well and in which I feel comfortable and have the confidence to carry myself.


So, I face Angelica, who is definitely in her child-bearing years - and I'm- uh- not. She was forced into nunhood, cast away forever because she did the unthinkable and shamed her noble family name. In the Thai culture from where I came, the family name is something you preserve and put on a pedestal. -I can relate to Angelica's background. There is not a day that goes by, since the birth of her child, when she doesn't think about him. There's that sense of longing for her son, the shame and the guilt that she brought down the family name, and the need to punish herself. I am a mother, and I love being a mother, so I have four chidren. (Well, obviously there are other factors as to why I have four children, but we don't need to go into that at this time!) Before accepting this role I could not even imagine what it would do to me if a child of mine were to be taken out of my sore body and away from me right at birth. And now, I have to think it, believe it, live it, and feel it. My Angelica 3-piece suit (plus the wimple, veil, etc.) has to be custom made by me, to fit well enough that I could feel myself inside her- and her inside me. So I put on Angelica, zip her up, and let her fall naturally on me.


In letting Angelica fall upon me there are compromises that I have to make when it comes to the differences between us. Should the same misfortune happen to me -Pradichaya, The urge to be with my child will out- power the guilt and the shame. -I would scream and kick my way out of the convent long before seven years have passed, and that nasty aunt will have a taste of the true Pradichaya. But of course, Puccini didn't write an opera called, "Pradichaya and her revenge on the nasty aunt who took over her inheritance," so I have to settle with the gentle, repentant, and walk-around-with-a-secret-larger-than-a-Thai-elephant Angelica.


And the result? Please see for yourself, and I welcome comments and feedback. I grow with every role I perform, and I gain tremendous experiences from wearing a role. If and when I have another chance at performing Angelica I can't tell what I'll do, but I can guarantee that no two performances will be the same.


Please enjoy the opera. Perhaps the next time I perform live I will have the honor of your attendance.



Capitol Opera Harrisburg

Performed on April 24th 2010



Suor-Angelica: Watch Suor Angelica, a one-act opera by Puccini. This video features Pradichaya Gafaae Poonyarit in the title role performing in Capitol Opera Harrisburg production.



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Suor-Angelica

CAST

Sister Angelica - Pradichaya Gafaae Poonyarit
The Princess - Mary Catherine Moroney
The Abbess - Elizabeth Splaine
The Monitor - Kim O'Bryan
The Mistress of Novices - Kim Shank
Sister Genevieve - Sophia Thompson
Sister Dolcina & Sister Osmina - Lynn Panattoni
The Tourieres - Alexandra Amrine & Sara Goldman
The Novices - Nicole Shank & Lydia DeKok
The Lay-Sisters - Bethany Rainey & Hannah Rainey
Orphans
Lily Grace Eckroth
Jackson Rainey
Jessica Rainey
Juliette Rainey
Dante Sarracino
ORCHESTRA

Conductor - Jay Risser
Accompanist - Lindsay Fitzke
Rehearsal Accompanist - Daniel Dorty
1st Violin - Cimone Phillips
2nd Violin Caitlyn Lynch & Erin Deitrick
Flute - Alyson Zeigler
Piccolo - Jennifer Kelley
Bassoon - Craig Kyle
Horn - Andrew Exner

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

Kathleen Torchia





Synopsis



Suor Angelica, a daughter of a noble Florentine family, has spent the last seven years in the seclusion of a convent as punishment for her sin. Having become an expert at crafting herbal remedies, her true, hidden desire is to hear from her family once again, and to gather news of her illegitimate son whom she has not seen since his birth and her banishment.




Her aunt, the Principessa, arrives. Angelica is informed that her younger sister is to be married, but her joy is tempered by the older woman's insistence that she sign away forever her inheritance. She tells Angelica that she should spend the remainder of her life as a nun in the convent as penance for her shameful act. When Angelica asks for news of her son, the Principessa replies coldly that two years ago he died from a fever. In despair, Angelica signs the document and, as the Principessa leaves, collapses in sobs.




With this news of her son's death, Angelica resolves to commit suicide. She mixes a deadly potion of herbs and drinks it, only to realize that to kill oneself is a mortal sin. As she is dying, she begs for mercy from the Virgin Mary, and her prayer is answered: her son, accompanied by the Virgin, appears to take her to Heaven.












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CORE MELODY VOICE TEACHING STUDIO
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Core Melody, La CoffeeMelodie Suite


VOCAL PERFORMANCES
Tailored for your special occasions.


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Outreach program and more.


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Features food photos and links to recipes


Chef-me-not La CoffeeMelodie Suite


MATH MADE EASY
Tutoring Service by Ralph Schatzki


Math Tutoring Service at La CoffeeMelodie Suite


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