Opera Ball: Gala Concert

PROGRAM
Conductor: Eun Sun Kim

“Regina Coeli … Inneggiamo” from Cavalleria Rusticana (Pietro Mascagni)
Aleksandra Kurzak, San Francisco Opera Chorus
The Easter procession in a small Sicilian town is followed by devout worshippers praising the Virgin and the risen Lord,
their hymn growing increasingly fervent. They are joined by Santuzza, who agonizes over Turiddu’s betrayal of her love.

“Tu qui Santuzza” from Cavalleria Rusticana
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna, Olivia Smith
Santuzza passionately confronts Turiddu as he is about to follow his new love, Lola, into the church for Easter Mass.
Santuzza begs him to return to her, but he adamantly refuses.
As he rebuffs her and enters the church, Santuzza furiously utters a curse upon him.

Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Alfio has just learned of his wife Lola’s affair with Turridu and has furiously sworn revenge.
This moving intermezzo, familiar from movie soundtracks including The Godfather Part III,
with its gentle opening string passage and broadly sweeping main melody,
offers a moment of emotional respite before the violent confrontation that is to come.

“Un jour de nous tu détournas tu face … Arrêtez, ô mes frères ... Et nous rend l’espérance”
from Samson et Dalila (Camille Saint-Saëns)
Roberto Alagna, San Francisco Opera Chorus
In a square in Gaza, the downcast Hebrew people beg Jehovah for relief from their bondage to the Philistines;
Samson, their leader, rebukes them for their lack of faith, arousing in them newfound hope and courage.

Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Having succumbed to Dalila’s wiles, Samson has been captured and blinded by his enemies.
In the temple of the pagan god Dagon, the Philistines wildly dance in celebration of their supposed victory,
unaware of the looming disaster that Samson’s revenge will soon bring about.

“Vissi d’arte” from Tosca (Giacomo Puccini)
Aleksandra Kurzak
Forced to either yield to the lecherous advances of Baron Scarpia, head of the secret police, or see her beloved Mario executed,
Tosca utters a remorseful prayer: “I lived for art and love, with sincere faith. Why, O Lord, am I rewarded this way?”

“Recitar! … Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci (Ruggero Leoncavallo)
Roberto Alagna
Canio, lead actor in a traveling comedy troupe, has just learned of his wife’s betrayal,
but the show is about to start. He forces himself to go on, bitterly telling himself: “Put on your costume and your make-up.
The people pay and they want to laugh … Laugh, clown, at the pain that is poisoning your heart!”

“Tu, tu, amore? Tu?” from Manon Lescaut (Giacomo Puccini)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
Having left the young Chevalier des Grieux for a wealthy, older man,
Manon has grown bored with her stifling life of coddled luxury.
When Des Grieux appears she begs his forgiveness, and he yields (again) to her charms, proclaiming,

“In the depths of your eyes I read my destiny!”
“La Spagnola” (Vincenzo Di Chiara, arr. Baginskiy)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
The Neapolitan composer Vincenzo di Chiara’s greatest claim to fame is this sultry tune, “La Spagnola” (The Spanish Lady),
from 1906, whose title character exults in the power of love. The song became a major hit when recorded by Rosa Ponselle.

“Be My Love” (Nicholas Brodszky, arr. Timofeev)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
Nicholas Brodszky composed “Be My Love,” with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, for the popular Hollywood star Mario Lanza.
Featured in the 1950 film The Toast of New Orleans, the hit tune was Lanza’s first million-seller
and became the radio theme song for The Mario Lanza Show.

“Cielito lindo” (Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, arr. Carp)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
The title of this song, written in 1882 by Mexican composer Quirino Mendoza y Cortés,
literally means “Lovely Sky” but colloquially “Cielito“ roughly translates as “Sweetie.”
Popular with Mariachi groups, the song is noted for its appealing “Ay, ay, ay, ay” refrain.

“Libertà” (David Alagna)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
Robert Alagna’s younger brother David wrote “Libertà” in the tradition of the popular Neapolitan song “O sole mio,”
as a romantic anthem to the natural world of light, sky, sun, and stars,
concluding with the phrase “Let a flower descend from the clouds for me in my last hour.”

“Lippen Schweigen” from The Merry Widow (Franz Lehár)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
Wealthy widow Hanna Glawari and Count Danilo Danilovitsch finally admit their deep feelings for one another
while waltzing in each other’s arms.

“Funiculì, Funiculà” (Luigi Denza, arr. Chiaramello)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna
This irresistibly rollicking Neapolitan song by Luigi Denza, composed in 1880 with lyrics by Peppino Turco,
is said to have been composed for the opening of the first funicular (cable railroad) ascending the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

“Libiamo” from La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)
Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna, San Francisco Opera Chorus
First Alfredo, then Violetta, and then all her guests, enjoy a drinking song whose refrain is “Let’s drink from our joyful glasses!”

The performance will last approximately one hour and fifty minutes.