A rare masterpiece of the 20th Century operatic repertoire, based on the true story of a convent of Carmelite nuns during the vicious and bloody Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. In some of the most dramatically riveting scenes in all of opera, the young novice, Blanche de la Force, faces her fear of death head on as she willingly chooses to mount the scaffold where fifteen fellow nuns are ordered to their deaths by guillotine. A rich and poignant score attests to the nuns’ courage and conviction. Music by Francis Poulenc Libretto by Francis Poulenc with the permission of Emmet Lavery After a screenplay by Georges Bernanos based on the novella Die Letzte am Schafott (The Last on the Scaffold), by Gertrud von le Fort. First performed in an Italian version La Scala, Milan January 26, 1957 Original French version premiered Théâtre National de l'Opéra, Paris June 21, 1957 Production Design by Renato Cesarino Costumes by C. Clara George Conducted and Directed by Ron De Fesi   Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 3:00 Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 3:00   UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MIDDLETOWN 25 Orchard Street • Middletown, New York The Cast MARQUIS DE LA FORCE: Goon Shik Yang, baritone CHEVALIER DE LA FORCE, his son: Kevin Courtemanche, tenor BLANCHE DE LA FORCE, his daughter, Leilah Dione Ezra, soprano MADAME DE CROISSY, the prioress, Maria Kathleen Barnet, mezzo-soprano SOEUR CONSTANCE OF ST. DENIS, a young novice, Gretchen Farrar, soprano MÈRE MARIE DE L’INCARNATION, assistant prioress, Mariella Nocetti, mezzo-soprano MADAME LIDOINE, the new prioress, Courteney Lynn Wilds, soprano MÈRE JEANNE, the dean of the community, Christa Damaris, contr’alto L’AUMONIER, the chaplain, Osvaldo Cicchetti, tenor FIRST OFFICER, Nathan Carlisle, tenor SECOND OFFICER, John Costello, bass A JAILER, Gustavo Morales, baritone   Carmelites, Officers, Prisoners, Townspeople The Hudson Opera Theatre Chorus         BLANCHE DE LA FORCE Leilah Dione Ezra MADAME LIDOINE Courteney Lynn Wilds SOEUR CONSTANCE Gretchen Farrar MADAME DE CROISSY Maria Kathleen Barnet MÈRE MARIE Mariella Nocetti MARQUIS DE LA FORCE Goon Shik Yang CHEVALIER DE LA FORCE Kevin Courtemanche L’AUMONIER Osvaldo Cicchetti MÈRE JEANNE Christa Damaris PREMIER COMMISSIONNAIRE Nathan Carlisle DIEUXIÈME COMMISSIONNAIRE John Costello GEÔLIER Gustavo Morales Click for a synopsis of the plot. Purchase Tickets for these Performances Read a review of this production...