November 18-24, 2004

artpicks

Second to Nun

opera

Francis Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites has become one of the 20th century's most theatrically compelling operas. Based on the real-life guillotine execution of a house of Carmelite nuns toward the end of France's Revolutionary Terror, Poulenc's very melodic and listener-friendly drama is as accessible as a good movie (indeed, his technique is somewhat cinematic). The opera touches on friendship, the potentially destructive nature of familial support and the need to overcome fear—all topics familiar to a student cast. Temple Opera Theater is entrusting the piece to Laura Johnson as stage director and John Douglas as musical director. Johnson and Douglas have decided to use the French text (with projected titles), believing that the language is a vital part of Poulenc's achievement. Above all, Dialogues provides stunning roles for five singing actresses and many of the great divas (including Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman and Philly's own Florence Quivar) have risen to its challenges. These young Temple singers could easily follow suit.

Dialogues of the Carmelites, Fri., Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 21, 3 p.m., $12.50-$20 (free for Temple students), Tomlinson Theater, Temple University, 1301 W. Norris St., 215-204-1122.

—David Shengold