Béatrice et Bénédict
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Admission: Suggested Donation of $20 General, $10 Student / Senior
Performed with chamber ensemble and piano
Cast and Characters
Don Pedro, General of the Sicilian Army | ...... | Michael Dunlap |
Claudio, General's Aide | ...... | Nathaniel Kondrat / Ryan Bede (19th & 20th) |
Bénédict, Sicilian officer, friend of Claudio | ...... | Tim Janecke / Wesley Morgan (19th & 20th) |
Héro, Daughter of Léonato, the governor | ...... | Katie Hochman / Courtney Ruckman (19th & 20th) |
Béatrice, niece of Leonato, the governor | ...... | Nerys Jones / Deborah Blakesley (19th & 20th) |
Ursule, Héro's lady in waiting | ...... | Victoria Chaussee / Amber Rose Johnson (19th & 20th) |
Somarone, Maître de chapelle | ...... | Michael Monnikendam |
Narrator | ...... | Renwick Hester |
Conductor and Arranger | ...... | Bernard Kwiram |
Chorus Master/Piano | ...... | John Burkhardt |
Chorus
Dana Birkby, Greta Birkby, Beth Reichgott Davis, Annette Dennis,Arwen Dewey, Breanna Edwards, Evan Fowler Derek Hanson, Justin Kalm,
Jim Miller, Emily Robinson, Chris Thomas, Eric Williams
Orchestra
Yi-Ting Kuo, Dustin Peskuric, Jenna Calixto, Jennifer Glenn-Shoval, Janice Lee,Shaunessey Scott, Alan Lawrence, Amy J. Ferguson, Kristine Kiner
Information and Synopsis
Libretto by Hector Berlioz based on the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing
Composed in 1858, with first performance at Theater der Stadt, Baden-Baden in 1862
The Opera takes place in Messina, Sicily
Festivities to celebrate Don Pedro's defeat of the Moors are in progress. Héro, the daughter of the governor looks forward to the return of her beloved the soldier, Claudio. Her cousin Béatrice, enquires after his friend, Bénédict whom she sarcastically calls "le seigneur matamare" - slayer of the the Moors. As she waits, Héro sings of her love of Claudio and their forthcoming marriage.
Don Pedro arrives with his friends and fellow soldiers, Claudio and Bénédict. While Claudio and Héro joyfully reunite, Béatrice and Bénédict engage in some spirited verbal sparring. Don Pedro announces that Leonato has agreed to the marriage of Claudio and Héro to occur that very evening and asks Bénédict if he is not tempted to follow Claudio's example. Bénédict replies that he would sooner enter a monastery and if he ever submits to the yoke of marriage, they should place a sign on his roof that reads "Here you may see Bénédict, a married man."
Somarone, the music Master rehearses with the chorus a piece he has composed for the wedding. He tells the singers they sound lugubrious rather than joyful. Don Pedro and Claudio, having decided that Béatrice and Bénédict would make a perfect match, resolve to trick them into marriage. Knowing that Bénédict is lurking in the garden, they loudly engage in a "private" conversation about how Béatrice is secretly in love with Bénédict but afraid to admit it to him. After they leave, Bénédict emerges and reflects on marriage declaring that "the world must be peopled." He acknowledges Béatrice's beauty and charm, then decides he will love and adore her.
Later, as the wedding banquet is in progress, Héro and Ursule escape to the garden to enjoy a respite from the noise and crowds. Though looking forward to her upcoming marriage, Hero is in a melancholy mood and feels guilty about their plan to trick Béatrice into marrying Bénédict. Ursule succeeds in reassuring her and, in the end Héro is happy to go along with the plan. The act ends with the two women enjoying the nocturnal beauty of the garden.
Act II - The Governor's Ballroom.The marriage of Claudio and Héro is eminent. In the distance, one can hear the festivities; guests demand wine and Somarone improvises a song about the wines of Sicily. Béatrice enters, greatly agitated. She cannot quite believe that Bénédict loves her. She remembers how worried she was for his safety when he left for war and a disturbing dream she had in which he was mortally wounded. She admits to herself that she loves him.
Héro and Ursule arrive and commence teasing Béatrice. "you must be so agitated because you realize that Bénédict, a brave and charming gentleman, does not deserve your scorn", they declare. Béatrice threatens to leave if they do not desist and the girls begin to sing of the tender beauties of love. Héro and Ursule revert to their teasing by discussing the many drawbacks of married life: loss of freedom, routine, regrets and jealousy. Béatrice agrees with their points, then Héro declares that she was making a joke and that joys of marriage are worth all the difficulties. As Héro and Ursule leave to prepare for the wedding music is heard in the distance. Béatrice again encounters Bénédict and more verbal sparring ensues with the outcome of him becoming tongue-tied and her being on the verge of tears. Enter Don Pedro, Claudio and Héro to sign the marriage contract. The scribe produces a second contract and asks where the other happy couple is. Everyone feigns surprise. Bénédict asks Béatrice if she loves him and she replies "No, no more than reason." When she puts the same question to him, his answer is the same. Claudio and Héro produce proof of love: an unfinished sonnet written by Bénédict declaring the virtues of Béatrice and Béatrice's sentimental reflections of Bénédict's finer qualities. Finally, the two contrary lovers agree to marry - each out of pity for the other, of course! The group then throws back at Bénédict his earlier words: "Here you may see Bénédict the married man" to which Bénédict replies "and very happy to be so!" The couple finishes with "Yes for today the truce is agreed: we will become enemies again tomorrow!"