Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Gian Carlo Menotti's operatic masterpiece, "The Saint of Bleecker Street," a captivating work that blends the composer's unique storytelling with a powerful musical score. Originally commissioned by the New York City Center in 1954, this opera in three acts delves into the conflicts between religious devotion and personal desires, set against the vibrant backdrop of Little Italy.
This double CD set, recorded live and released by Chandos in March 2002, captures the essence of Menotti's vision with a stellar cast of soloists and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by the esteemed Richard Hickox. The album spans a duration of 2 hours and 4 minutes, offering a comprehensive experience of Menotti's dramatic and lyrical genius.
"The Saint of Bleecker Street" is a profound exploration of faith, love, and community, brought to life through Menotti's evocative music and compelling narrative. The opera's themes resonate deeply, making it a timeless addition to any classical music collection. Whether you are a longtime admirer of Menotti's work or a newcomer to his compositions, this recording promises an enriching and memorable experience.
2002 Chandos Records2002 Chandos Records
Tracks
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Introduction - Rosa Mystica (Assunta, A Young Man, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Yvonne Howard, Benjamin Harbold, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Well … I'm tired of waiting! (Maria Corona, Assunta, Carmela, A Young Woman, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Yvonne Howard, Amelia Farrugia, Sandra Zeltzer, Jennifer Check, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: The vision has begun (Don Marco, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Ah, sweet Jesus, spare me this agony (Annina, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Look! The stigmata (Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Stop it! (Michele, Carmela, Don Marco, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel, Sandra Zeltzer, Timothy Richards, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: Ah, poor Michele, it is not I your rival (Don Marco)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 1: InterludeGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Canta ninna, canta nanna al mio bambino (Assunta, Carmela, An Old Woman, Renata, AnniGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Yvonne Howard, Sandra Zeltzer, Julia Melinek, Heather Lockard, Nejla Hennard, Angel Oramas
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Annina, I've something to confess to you (Carmela, Annina, Assunta)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Yvonne Howard, Sandra Zeltzer, Julia Melinek
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Annina, Annina! (Maria Corona, Assunta, Carmela, Annina, Son of Maria Corona)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Yvonne Howard, Sandra Zeltzer, Julia Melinek, Amelia Farrugia, Riccardo Bartoli
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Michele, Michele! (Annina, Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Timothy Richards
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Sister, I shall hide you and take you away (Michele, Annina)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Timothy Richards
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act I Scene 2: Veglia su di noi, Santo del Sangue (Annina, Michele, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Timothy Richards, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: Introduction - Hai l'occhio nero, nero della quaglia (Michele, Annina, Carmela, Salvatore, AGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Timothy Richards, Sandra Zeltzer, Vitali Roznyko, Mark T. Panuccio, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: Where is Michele? (Desideria, Bartender, Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards, Pamela Helen Stephen, Paul Fogle
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: Eh gia giovinotti voglion stare attorno a te (Desideria, Michele, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards, Pamela Helen Stephen, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: Ah, Michele, don't you know that love can turn to hate (Desideria)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Pamela Helen Stephen
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: You will regret it (Michele, Don Marco, Annina, Salvatore, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards, Julia Melinek, John Marcus Bindel, Vitali Roznyko, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: I know that you all hate me (Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: You are wrong, Michele (Don Marco, Annina, Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards, Julia Melinek, John Marcus Bindel
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act II: Yes, Michele, go home, go, go … (Desideria, Michele, Annina, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Timothy Richards, Julia Melinek, Pamela Helen Stephen, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 1: Introduction - Stop worrying, Annina (Maria Corona, Annina)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Amelia Farrugia
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 1: There she is (Don Marco, Maria Corona, Annina, Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Amelia Farrugia, Timothy Richards, John Marcus Bindel
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 1: Weeping, these, for him, are days of weeping (Maria Corona, Annina, Michele)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Amelia Farrugia, Timothy Richards
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III: InterludeGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi (Assunta, Annina, Carmela, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Yvonne Howard, Sandra Zeltzer, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Annina, Annina, prepare yourself for a great joy (Don Marco, Annina, Carmela)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Sandra Zeltzer, John Marcus Bindel
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Oh, my Love, at last the hour has come (Annina, Carmela)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Julia Melinek, Sandra Zeltzer
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Maria, Salvatore! (Assunta, Maria Corona, Salvatore, Don Marco, Carmela, Tenor SoloGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel, Yvonne Howard, Amelia Farrugia, Sandra Zeltzer, Vitali Roznyko, Andrew Bidlack
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Gloria tibi Domine in saeculum et in saeculum saeculi (Don Marco, Annina, Chorus)Gian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel, Julia Melinek, Spoleto Festival Choir
The Saint of Bleecker Street, Act III Scene 2: Annina, Annina! (Michele, Salvatore, Don Marco, Maria Corona, Carmela, Assunta, ChoGian Carlo Menotti, Richard Hickox, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, John Marcus Bindel, Yvonne Howard, Amelia Farrugia, Sandra Zeltzer, Vitali Roznyko, Spoleto Festival Choir
Gian Carlo Menotti, the prolific Italian-American composer, is renowned for his significant contributions to the world of opera, with a repertoire of 25 captivating works. Primarily active in the mid-20th century, Menotti's operas are celebrated for their expressive lyricism and dramatic intensity, making him one of the most frequently performed opera composers of his time. Influenced by the likes of Giacomo Puccini and Modest Mussorgsky, Menotti's compositions are deeply rooted in the verismo tradition, emphasizing natural rhythms and textual clarity to enhance the dramatic narrative. His rejection of atonality and the Second Viennese School's aesthetic further solidifies his unique voice in the opera world. Menotti's works, particularly those from the 1940s and 1950s, continue to captivate audiences with their emotional depth and musical richness.
Vinylscout
Gian Carlo Menotti
