Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi

This spring Loyola Opera Theatre will present a double bill of contrasting tales - a drama of sorrow and redemption, and a comedy about family greed turned to advantage –with performances of “Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi." The hour-long operas are the final two of the three one-act works known collectively as Il Trittico, by Giacomo Puccini. Both will be performed in Italian with English-language supertitles on Friday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. in the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall, located in the Communications/Music Complex on Loyola’s main campus. Renowned mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee from Loyola's voice faculty will sing the role of the Principessa, the unforgiving matriarch of Angelica's family, and recent alumnus Spencer Reichman will return in the title role of Gianni Schicchi. Carol Rausch is Music Director, and Sofia Riggio will conduct both works, which will be staged by Lara Lignitz and Irini Kyriakidou.

“Suor Angelica” is the second opera of the trio known as II Trittico, which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1918. The setting is an Italian convent where Sister Angelica, forced to become a nun by her wealthy family, learns that the son taken from her at birth has recently died. Despondent, Angelica decides that taking her own life is the only way to rejoin her child, but then realizes the error of her ways and pleads to God for forgiveness. 

The third and final opera in the series, “Gianni Schicchi,” chronicles the backstabbing and conniving nature of the Donati family of Florence, Italy, as they gather at the death bed of one of their own. They turn to an outsider to manipulate the will and their own inheritance, with hilarious and unexpected results! 

Tickets not yet available.

Loyola Music follows all City of New Orleans COVID guidance regarding indoor music venues.