Although Giacomo Meyerbeer was one of the most celebrated composers during his lifetime and wrote some sixteen operas, many of his works often go overlooked. We’re going to remedy that, a bit, on this week’s Sunday Opera (5/25 3:00 p.m.) with a recording of his last work, “L’Africaine” or “Vasco da Gama” in its edited final version.
We’d love to bring you the original version of “Vasco Da Gama,” but since the opera itself runs almost four-and-a-half hours, it won’t quite fit, so we’re pleased to bring you the version that was edited for time and clarity.
The story is a fictional account of a segment of Da Gama’s life where he is shipwrecked by manages to make his way back to Lisbon along with two “slaves” he as acquired somewhere, Selica and Nelusko. In Lisbon, his girlfriend Ines has been pursued by the president of the Royal Council, Don Pedro, and after Da Gama is imprisoned, Ines agrees to marry Don Pedro in order to secure Da Gama’s release from prison.
This begins a journey to the home of Selica (who is a queen) and Nelusko (her consort) where Don Pedro and his crew are killed. Only Da Gama and Ines survive and are able to return to Portugal when Selica releases them from her unnamed exotic island. After which, Selica sits beneath the extremely poisonous Manchineel tree, inhales its blossoms’ poisonous fragrance, and slowly dies as Da Gama and Ines sail homeward.
In this recording from 2018, you’ll hear Michael Spyres as Da Gama, Claudia Mahnke is Selica, Kirsten Mackinnon is Ines, Brian Mulligan is Nelusko, and Andreas Bauer Kanabas is Don Pedro. Other members of the cast include Thomas Faulkner, Bianca Andrew, and Michael McCown. They are all joined by the Frankfurt Opera Chorus and the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra. Our conductor is Antonella Manacroda.
We’ll have just a bit of time after the opera to sample more of Meyerbeer’s music, and this comes from another opera we’ve showcased on the Sunday Opera, “La Prophete.” You’ll hear the overture and fourth act Coronation March performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Darrell Ang.
