La fanciulla del West 2016

Synopsis
Artists

“There’s a path to redemption for every one of you boys.”

Minnie, the invincible heroine of The Girl of the Golden West, can hold her own with the boys at her saloon. Her love is torn between a disguised bandit, who wins her heart, and his rival, the sheriff. A poker game determines the outcome in a climactic face-off.

Music By

Giacomo Puccini

Libretto By

Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini

Act I

A mining camp at the foot of the Cloudy Mountains in California, 1849-1850: Miners gather in the saloon where they are greeted by Nick, the bartender. Happy, Harry, Handsome, Trin and Joe gamble, with Sid as banker. Jake Wallace sings a nostalgic song, which provokes Larkens to break down with homesickness. Some contribute money for Larkens’s return home. Sid is caught cheating and the miners threaten him with hanging. Sheriff Rance intervenes and pins a two of spades to his lapel as a mark of shame before towing him out of the saloon. The Wells Fargo agent Ashby arrives with news that the bandit Ramerrez is at large. Rance and Sonora quarrel over Minnie. Her arrival restores order. The miners give her gifts. Minnie leads a bible-class. The post arrives and Ashby receives information about Ramerrez. Rance finds himself alone with Minnie and declares his desire for her. Nick returns with a man called Dick Johnson. He has met Minnie before, and their attraction angers Rance. Ashby and a group of men drag in José Castro, one of Remerrez’s gang. He pretends to have deserted his boss and promises to lead them to him. Castro’s intention is to distract the miners long enough for Ramerrez to rob the saloon where the miners keep their gold. He whispers to Ramerrez, alias Johnson, that he will give a signal when it is safe for Johnson to commit robbery. The miners prepare to ride off with Castro, leaving Minnie to guard their gold. Johnson is alone with Minnie. He ignores Castro’s signal, and accepts Minnie’s invitation to meet later at her cabin.

Act II

About an hour has passed: Billie Jackrabbit visits Wowkie at Minnie’s cabin. Minnie arrives to prepare for Johnson’s visit. She describes her life on the mountain to Johnson. As they become more intimate, Johnson inexplicably announces that he must leave. It is snowing heavily outside. Minnie insists that he stay the night, though they will sleep separately. Rance and a small posse of men knock on the door. They are searching for Johnson. Johnson hides. Rance provides proof of Johnson’s criminal identity. The men leave. Minnie rounds on Johnson: he attempts to explain his life. Minnie orders him to go. As soon as he leaves, shots ring out and Johnson’s body slumps against the door. Minnie opens the door, he staggers in and she hides him. Rance returns. A trail of blood eventually leads him to Johnson. In a desperate ploy, Minnie challenges Rance to a game of poker: if she wins, Johnson will go free; if she loses, she will give herself to Rance. By cheating in the final hand, she wins.

Act III

One week later: Rance despairs at having let Johnson go free. Distant voices draw nearer: Johnson has been caught and is brought in to face the accusing mob. Billy Jackrabbit prepares the noose. Johnson asks that Minnie will never be told of his execution. Minnie arrives and pleads with the miners to spare his life. They accept. Minnie and Johnson depart from California.

La fanciulla del West 2016

Synopsis

Act I

Act II

Act III

Artists

Patricia Racette

Patricia Racette

Gwyn Hughes Jones

Gwyn Hughes Jones

Mark Delavan

Mark Delavan

Raymond Aceto

Raymond Aceto

Allan Glassman

Allan Glassman

Craig Verm

Craig Verm

Tyson Miller

Tyson Miller

Jared Bybee

Jared Bybee

Derrek Stark

Derrek Stark

Andrew Paulson

Andrew Paulson

Jorge Espino

Jorge Espino

John Matthew Myers

John Matthew Myers

Adrian N. Smith

Adrian N. Smith

Nicholas Davis

Nicholas Davis

Benjamin Werley

Benjamin Werley

Alan Higgs

Alan Higgs

Kristen Choi

Kristen Choi

James Harrington

James Harrington

Emmanuel Villaume

Emmanuel Villaume

Richard Jones

Richard Jones

Miriam Buether

Miriam Buether

Nicky Gillibrand

Nicky Gillibrand

Mimi Jordan Sherin

Mimi Jordan Sherin

Lucy Burge

Lucy Burge

Anjali Mehra

Anjali Mehra

Rick Sordelet

Rick Sordelet

Christian Kelly-Sordelet

Christian Kelly-Sordelet

Susanne Sheston

Susanne Sheston

La fanciulla del West 2016