Stradella’s La Susanna (1681)
Opera Lafayette Season 2018-2019, co-presented with heartbeat opera
Alessandro Stradella, composer
Giovanni Battista Giardini, librettist
-Based on the story of Susanna and the Elders in the Book of Daniel-
Two judges desire the beautiful Susanna. When she rejects their advances, they exploit their power in an attempt to destroy her. It’s the Bible’s iconic story of sexual harassment and the perversion of justice. Originally conceived with a male narrator and male savior, Stradella’s seductive oratorio from 1681 becomes
a startlingly powerful opera for 2019, with women as both storyteller and whistleblower. Heartbeat Opera (“imaginative and vital” – The New Yorker) and Opera Lafayette (“uncommonly rewarding” – Musical America) joined forces to breathe new life into this baroque gem, which speaks truth to power here and now.
CAST
Lucía Martín Cartón, Susanna
Sara Couden, Scholar/Testo
Ariana Douglas, Student/Daniel
Patrick Kilbride, Judge
Paul Max Tipton, Judge
ORCHESTRA
Ryan Brown, Violin
Jacob Ashworth, Violin
Arash Noori, Theorbo
Anthony Manzo, Bass
Loretta O’Sullivan, Cello
Andrew Appel, Harpsichord
CREATIVE TEAM
Ryan Brown and Jacob Ashworth, music direction
Ethan Heard, stage direction
Emma Crane Jaster, movement direction
Reid Thompson, scenic design
Beth Goldenberg, costume design
Oliver Wason, lighting design
Peregrine Heard and Jacob Ashworth, English translation
Peregrine Heard, dramaturgy
Lisa Mion, props design
Caroline Englander, stage management
Erin Krebs, assistant stage direction
Tamrin Goldberg, associate movement direction
Michelle Tarantino, assistant costume design
Jenn Gallo, assistant stage management
ReviewS
“It was a thoughtful production that did full justice to a forgotten work.” | Read Full Review
Anne Midgette, The Washington Post, April 23, 2019
“Opera Lafayette is closing its season with one of the strongest productions it has ever mounted…a marvel both musically and dramatically.” | Read Full Review
Charles Downey, Washington Classical Review, April 23, 2019
“Opera Lafayette/Heartbeat Opera’s La Susanna is the sort of arts experience that stays with you for a while, raising questions, provoking discussion.” | Read Full Review
Mike Rogers, Opera Gene, April 24, 2019
“Ultimately, however, the show belongs to soprano Lucía Martín-Cartón and her two would-be attackers. Martin-Cartón’s vocals are as clear and pure as the character she’s playing…Paul Max Tipton and Patrick Kilbride are appropriately morally bankrupt as the corrupt judges…” | Read Full Review
Helen Holmes, Observer, May 3, 2019
“Susanna was performed by the crystalline-voiced soprano Lucía Martín Cartón, whose dramatic instincts were as sure as her impeccable musicianship.” | Read Full Review
Rick Perdian, Seen and Heard International, May 6, 2019
Performed
Washington, DC:
April 21 & 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
The Terrace Theater, The Kennedy Center
New York City:
May 2-5, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Fishman Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Explore more performances from Opera Lafayette past seasons.