PALM BEACH OPERA Enemies, A Love Story - Resource Guide
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
PALM BEACH OPERA
Enemies, A Love Story
Resource Guide
WHAT’S INSIDE:
The masterminds! The creative minds behind Enemies, A Love Story
Who’s who? Who you’ll meet in Enemies, A Love Story
Understanding the Action! The storyline of Enemies, A Love Story
Engage your mind! Activities to prepare you for your Enemies, A Love Story experience
Jourdan Laine Howell, Education & Community Engagement Manager
561.835.7566 // jlainehowell@pbopera.org
PALM BEACH OPERA // 561.833.7888 // PBOPERA.ORGEnemies, A Love Story The masterminds! The creative minds behind Enemies, A Love Story Who wrote the book? Isaac Bashevis Singer was one of the great storytellers of the twentieth century. His writing is a unique blend of religious morality and social awareness combined with an investigation of personal desires. Isaac Bashevis Singer was born on July 24, 1904 in Radzymin, Poland. His parents were religious Jews and pushed him towards a career as a religious scholar. In 1921 he enrolled in Rabbinical School, but left only two years later to work for a Yiddish literary magazine. Though his rabbinical studies would remain a strong influence on him, he longed to be a part of a literary community. Working as a journalist, translator, and proofreader, Singer began to write short stories on the side. By 1935 he had published his first book, SATAN IN GORAY. That same year, Singer followed his brother, Isaac Joshua Singer to America. In New York, Isaac Bashevis Singer began working for THE JEWISH DAILY FORWARD, a Yiddish newspaper dedicated to issues of interest to its newly immigrated readership which remains in existence today as a weekly publication. Throughout the 1940s, Singer’s reputation began to grow among the many Yiddish-speaking immigrants. After World War II and the near destruction of the Yiddish-speaking peoples, Yiddish seemed a dead language. Though Singer had moved to the United States, he believed in the power of his native language and knew that there was still a large audience that longed for new work, work that would address the lives and issues of theirs. In 1950 Singer produced his first major work, THE FAMILY MOSKAT—the story of a twentieth century Polish Jewish family before the war. He followed this novel with a series of well-received short stories, including his most famous, “Gimpel, The Fool.” His works caught the attention of a number of American writers including Saul Bellow and Irving Howe, who were greatly responsible for not only translating Singer’s work, but championing it as well. Throughout the 1960s Singer continued to write on questions of personal morality. One of his most famous novels (due to a popular movie remake) was ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY, in which a Holocaust survivor deals with his own desires, complex family relationships, and the loss of faith. By the 1970s, he had become a major international writer. After World War II there were few Yiddish writers remaining and Singer was not only a vocal proponent of Yiddish writing, but the major figure in Yiddish letters. Throughout the 1970s he wrote dozens of stories that were eventually collected into books, and published in Yiddish and English as well as many other languages. He branched out, writing memoirs and children’s books as well as two other major novels set in the twentieth century, THE PENITENT (1974) and SHOSHA (1978). After being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978, Singer gained a monumental status among writers throughout the world. He continued to write during the last years of his life, often returning to Polish history which so entranced him throughout his early life. In 1988 he published THE KING OF THE FIELDS and three years later, SCUM, a story of a man living in an early- twentieth-century Polish shtetl. That same year, Isaac Bashevis Singer died at the age of eighty- seven in Surfside, Florida. Incredibly prolific, Singer created an insightful and deep body of work that will forever remain an important part of literary history.
Who wrote the libretto? Nahma Sandrow’s Vagabond Stars: A World History of Yiddish Theater is now in its third edition and remains the definitive work in the field. Her other books include God, Man, and Devil: Yiddish Plays in Translation and Surrealism: Theater, Arts, Ideas. In addition, she has written feature articles for the New York Times, the New York Sun, ARTnews, and other newspapers, magazines and journals. Dr. Sandrow won the Outer Critics Circle Award for the book of the musical Kuni- Leml. Other theater credits include the adaptation of her prize-winning (ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS) history Vagabond Stars for the stage, and many translations, several of which have been produced. She is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Research Foundations of both the State University of New York and Nahma Sandrow the City University of New York. A PEN-nominated grant from the New York State Council on the Arts supported her translation of Shulamis, a classic Yiddish operetta, which was subsequently performed at Harvard University. Dr. Sandrow lectures widely. She has spoken at universities such as Harvard and Oxford, as well as at the Smithsonian Institution and many other academic and cultural organizations. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the Yale School of Drama. Who wrote the music? The music of American composer Ben Moore has been performed by many leading singers including soprano Deborah Voigt, mezzo-sopranos Susan Graham and Frederica von Stade, tenors Lawrence Brownlee and Robert White, baritone Nathan Gunn and six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald. His work has been called “brilliant” and “gorgeously lyrical” by the New York Times while Opera News has praised the “easy tunefulness” and “romantic sweep” of his songs. Besides art song and opera Moore’s works include musical theater, cabaret, chamber music, choral music and comedy material. In 2006 the Metropolitan Opera’s farewell gala for Joseph Volpe, broadcast nationally, featured two Moore songs, one for Deborah Voigt and one for Susan Graham. 2006 also saw the release of the volume Ben Moore: 14 Songs published by G. Schirmer. Ben Moore Reviewing the album, Classical Singer Magazine wrote, “…you can find a breath of fresh air in the settings included in this volume…This composer is not afraid of the past, but rather embraces many of the most beautiful aspects of his artistic heritage while imbuing his work with its own personal colors and tones.” Born on January 2, 1960, in Syracuse, New York, Moore grew up in Clinton, New York and graduated from Hamilton College. With an MFA from The Parsons School of Design, Moore also pursues a career as a painter.
Enemies, A Love Story
An Opera in Two Acts
Composer – Ben Moore
Librettist – Nahma Sandrow
Based on the book by Isaac Bashevis Singer
WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
February 20, 2015 at PALM BEACH OPERA in West Palm Beach, Florida
Who’s who? Who you’ll meet in The Daughter of the Regiment
Who’s who? Who you’ll meet in Enemies, A Love Story
Herman Broder, an indecisive man in love Baritone
with three women
Yadwiga, Herman’s second wife Soprano
Masha, Herman’s mistress Soprano
Tamara, Herman’s first wife Mezzo soprano
Shifrah Puah, Masha’s mother Mezzo soprano
Tortshiner, Masha’s husband Bass baritone
Rabbi Lampert, American born religious Baritone
authority
Nissen, Tamara’s pious uncle Tenor/high Baritone
Sheva Haddas, Nissen’s pious wife Soprano or Mezzo soprano
Hannah, Yadwiga’s nosy neighbor Soprano
Leah, Yadwiga’s nosier neighbor Mezzo sopranoUnderstanding the action! The storyline of
Enemies, A Love Story
Setting: The action takes place in New York City, from summer to spring,
circa 1948.
ACT I
An apartment in Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1948. Herman Broder, a Polish
Jewish writer and intellectual, is lost in a dream until his wife, Yadwiga,
rouses him. Yadwiga is a Polish farmer’s daughter and former family
servant who saved Herman from the Nazis. She believes Herman is leaving
for a sales trip (Little Bird). On his way he stops in a phone booth to talk to
his boss, Rabbi Lampert, for whom he writes books and lectures. Herman
actually goes to the Bronx to see his mistress Masha who lives with her
mother, Shifrah Puah, both concentration camp survivors ("My Love
Remembers"). Next morning at breakfast Herman finds a Personals notice in
the newspaper which leads him to an apartment on the Lower East Side.
There he is astonished to find Tamara, his first wife, reported to have been
killed in the war along with their two children. Tamara shares with him the
story of her escape (Tamara’s Aria). After learning of Yadwiga and Masha,
she offers to divorce him, though he refuses.
Yadwiga’s neighbors advise her to suspect Herman’s frequent sales trips,
but she asserts her faith in her husband (Yadwiga’s Aria). On an outing to
the Bronx Zoo, Masha announces that she has gotten a divorce from her
scientist husband and questions Herman about the Personals notice.
Under pressure, Herman marries Masha in a Jewish wedding, acquiring a
third wife, though of course Tamara’s reappearance means that this
ceremony with Masha is meaningless. Tamara tries to give Herman
practical advice, for old times’ sake (March Scene). Then Herman meets
Masha’s ex-husband in a cafeteria. His revelations that Masha had lovers
over the years and that she slept with him as the price of a divorce shake
Herman, who renounces Masha and all his own lies too. He resolves to
return to religious tradition, start a family with Yadwiga, and be faithful to
her (“Baby Waltz”).
INTERMISSION
ACT II
Herman’s three wives, each in her own apartment, face the future (Women's
Trio). Then Tamara decides to visit Herman's apartment, terrifying Yadwiga,
who at first believes she’s a ghost and then offers to leave Herman and
return to Poland. By coincidence, a neighbor brings Rabbi Lampert to meet
Yadwiga. The rabbi sees that Herman is married to Yadwiga but thinks that
Tamara is a cousin. The phone rings; Masha convinces Herman to come see
her after months of separation and he rushes out. When he arrives at herapartment we learn that she told him she is pregnant, but only to get him there (Prayer Scene). He is
unable to tell her that their wedding was a sham.
Now, committed again to Masha, Herman tries to confide his tangle of lies to the rabbi. Pregnant
Yadwiga, protected by Tamara, is finally becoming aware of Herman's double life. It is the holiday of
Hanuka, and Tamara teaches Yadwiga to light the holiday candles and say the blessings. Herman takes
Masha to the rabbi’s Hanuka celebration, where the rabbi and partygoers celebrate miracles and survival
("Miracles of Life). But when the rabbi meets Masha and mentions Herman’s “cousin” Tamara, Masha
figures out that Herman’s wife is in New York and therefore Herman deliberately deceived her; they are
not married. The rabbi offers to help her move to Florida and start again. Herman realizes that he cannot
live without Masha. He leaves Yadwiga and their unborn child in Tamara’s care and appears in the Bronx,
where Masha is packing. She takes him back, and they plan a new life in Florida ("Morning in Florida").
But Masha’s mother suddenly falls sick. While she is rushing her to the hospital, Herman finds he cannot
go through with his commitment to a new life with Masha. When she returns after her mother has died,
Masha sees that Herman has left her, and she kills herself. In the final moments Yadwiga and Tamara are
together with the baby.Engage your mind! Activities to prepare you for Enemies, A Love Story 6-12th Grade Literary Analysis Fiction: The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the elements of a variety of fiction and literary texts to develop a thoughtful response to a literary selection. (LA.6.2.1); (LA.7.2.1); (LA.8.2.1); (LA.910.2.1); (LA.1112.2.1) Isaac Beshevis Singer wrote Enemies, A Love Story in 1966. The subject was deemed appropriate for an opera by librettist Nahma Sandrow and composer Ben Moore. Having read the synopsis, offer five reasons why Singer’s book makes for an interesting stage work. Next, determine other literary works that you believe should be translated into an operatic stage work. Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) 1. Multiple sub plots 2. Memorable characters 3. Historical drama 6th-12th Grade Critical Think and Reflection Enduring Understanding 1: Cognition and reflection are required to appreciate, interpret, and create with artistic intent. (TH.68.C.1); (TH.912.C.1) Enemies, A love Story is a world premiere opera. This means that the opera is being produced and presented for the first time EVER! When tackling a world premiere, the producing company works with stage artisans who imagine, design, and create all aspects of the work (i.e. the sets, the costumes, the staging, the props) which will set the standard by which all future productions of the opera will be measured. Step into the role of Set Designer. Reread the provided synopsis then choose a scene below. Design a set concept for the selected scene and use an appropriate medium to display your design: drawing, digital media, scale model, storyboard, etc. Option No. 1: Herman and Yadwiga’s apartment; Herman sings a playful folksong for Yadwiga Option No. 2: apartment on the Lower East Side; Herman discovers that his wife Tamara has survived the Holocaust Option No. 3: Herman has flashbacks to a hayloft where he hid from Nazi persecutors
9th-12th Grade American History Standard 6: Understand the causes and course of World War II, the character of the war at home and abroad, and its reshaping of the United States role in the post-war world. (SS.912.A.6) SS.912.A.6.3: Analyze the impact of the Holocaust during World War II on Jews as well as other groups. What happened to the Jewish people who survived the atrocities of the Third Reich? Brainstorm and list 5-10 issues you believe survivors would have faced in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Using the following resources, verify or correct your list. 1. www.holocaust-history.org/short essays 2. www.ushmm.org (The aftermath of the Holocaust) 3. www.thehoocaustexplained.org (Survival and Legacy) 6-8th Grade Reading Process Vocabulary Development: The student uses multiple strategies to develop grade appropriate vocabulary. (LA.6.1.6); (LA.7.1.6); (LA.8.1.6); (LA.910.1.6); (LA.1112.1.6) Research and define the following terms related to the Holocaust Aftermath: Liberation Citizenship Refugee Genocide Displaced Person Displaced Person Camp (DP Camp) Pogrom The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Jewish Brigade Group United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide
6th-12th Grade Communication Penmanship: The student engages in the writing process and writes to communicate ideas and experiences. (LA.6.5.1); (LA.7.5.1); (LA.8.5.1) ; (LA.910.5.1) ; (LA.1112.5.1) Visit the following links found on www.theholocaustexplained.com. Read the quotes and/or watch the accompanying videos. Write a paragraph response to each quote or video entry. Link No. 1 Link No. 2 Link No. 3 Link No. 4
PALM BEACH OPERA
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
2015 SEASON CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM
Palm Beach Opera’s Young Artists sing selections from well-
LA BOHÈME known operas and discuss elements of the performing arts
BY GIACOMO PUCCINI industry with students. Grades K-12
JANUARY 16-18, 2015
ENEMIES, OPERA REHEARSAL 101
A LOVE STORY Get an exclusive sneak peek inside the final working dress
MUSIC BY BEN MOORE rehearsal of our mainstage operas! Grades 6-12
LIBRETTO BY NAHMA SANDROW
BASED ON THE BOOK BY
ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER
FEBRUARY 20-22, 2015
PBO STUDIO
Palm Beach Opera’s high school apprentice program for
THE DAUGHTER students age 16+ who are currently studying music or
OF THE REGIMENT theater intend to major in voice at the collegiate level.
La fille du Régiment Grades 10-12
BY GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARCH 20-22, 2015
561.833.7888 Jourdan Laine Howell
PBOPERA.ORG Education and Community Engagement Manager
jlainehowell@pbopera.org
561.835.7566
pbopera.org
Palm Beach Opera’s Education Programs are made possible by the
Goldner Center for Children’s Opera EducationYou can also read
