The Saint of Bleecker Street

THE SAINT OF BLEECKER STREET
Passion, Murder, MiraclesÂ…all at one address

Lyric Opera of Melbourne presents the Australian premiere of Gian Carlo MenottiÂ’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera The Saint of Bleecker Street as its debut production at The National Theatre in St Kilda in March 2003.

First preformed at New YorkÂ’s Broadway Theatre on 27 December 1954, The Saint of Bleecker Street presents a tangled musical drama of love, murder, and miracles in three acts.

Set in New York’s Little Italy the plot revolves around Annina, revered by the locals for her ‘miraculous’ healing powers and for bearing the stigmata of Christ’s crucifixion. Annina’s obsessive brother Michele rejects these claims as nonsense and tries to stop Annina’s wish to take the veil. When Desideria - Michele’s lover - accuses Michele of loving Annina more then her, Michele stabs Desideria in the back, killing her. Now a fugitive, Michele goes back to his flat only to find Annina in the final stages of the sacred veil ceremony. Michele pleads with Annina to stop but unable to hear him, Annina rises to receive the veil only to collapse, dying. Priest Don Marco places a ring on Annina’s finger to complete the ceremony and to confirm her relationship with God.

Directed by Hugh Halliday, the operaÂ’s Australian premiere includes a cast of nine principles, chorus line and symphony orchestra. Australian soprano Brenda Pitts will perform the role of Annina, tenor David Rogers-Smith as Michele and, mezzo-soprano Teresa Fanning as Desideria. Experience the fascinating opera that is The Saint of Bleecker Street in the Art Deco grandeur of The National Theatre in St Kilda.

The Saint of Bleecker Street
The National Theatre, cnr Carlisle & Barkly Streets, St Kilda
Tickets on sale through Ticketek
21, 22, 27 & 28 March 2003 at 8.00pm
ph 132 849 or log on to www.ticketek.com.au