This week's episode is The Medium by Gian Carlo Menotti and libretto also written by Menotti. This two-act English opera is about Madame Flora and her business as a Medium to connect with people that have passed over. Monica and adopted family member Toby orchestrate themselves as the spirits during the séance in the first part of the opera. Madame Flora ends up encountering weird situations that she ends up blaming on Toby for no reason. She starts to unravel during the second act and the opera comes to a sad, and gory, end.

Sources:

https://operavision.eu/performance/medium

https://opera-stl.org/the-medium-1976/#:~:text=Lighting%20Designer-,Synopsis,back%20to%20haunt%20the%20living.

This week's episode is a one-act opera in French by Maurice Ravel. This comedic story covers the life of Torquemada, a clockmaker, who has gone out to tend to the towns clocks. While he is doing this his wife Concepción is up to no good and invited her "male friends" over. Yet, she is hindered by a customer named Ramiro and tries to distract him so she can be with her two "friends" that have come over. Both of her gentlemen "friends" end up hiding in the clocks and later escape after her husband has returned home. After this entire debacle, she is now attracted to Ramiro, the customer at the shop.

Sources:

https://www.operaamerica.org/calendar/production/21705/lheure-espagnole

https://stageagent.com/shows/opera/2405/lheure-espagnole

This weeks opera we dive into the world of Lakmé by Léo Delibes. This three act French opera premiered in 1883 at the Opera Comique in Paris, France. This story takes place during the English Rule in India. Lakmé is the daughter of a high priest who falls in love with a British Soldier named Gerald. Her father believes he needs to protect her honor and decides to get revenge on Gerald. After surviving a stab wound, Lakmé nurses Gerald back to health only for him to leave her and she ends up ending her life. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

Sources:

https://www.operaamerica.org/calendar/production/21248/lakme

https://www.liveabout.com/lakme-synopsis-724265

https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-british-impact-on-india-1700-1900/

https://www.britannica.com/event/British-raj

Flower Duet with Sabine Devieilhe and Marianne Crebassa: https://youtu.be/C1ZL5AxmK_A?si=a8zAulq1Pnl81N3l

Bell song with Sabine Devieilhe: https://youtu.be/C1ZL5AxmK_A?si=a8zAulq1Pnl81N3l