Puccini’s three one act operas (Il Trittico) received their world premiere performances at the Met in 1918. When given together their order of performance is Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi. The middle opera has always been the least performed of the three. Puccini’s sister was a nun and he used a lot of detail of the cloistered life in Angelica’s first two thirds. These details, while very well set, can be tedious even when the performance is excellent. The work takes off when title character’s aunt appears. The aunt informs her niece that her illegitimate son died two years ago.
Angelica, who is the pharmacist for the nunnery, in despair takes poison. Then she realizes that she has committed a mortal sin putting her soul in jeopardy. She repents and begs the Virgin for salvation. Her dying plea produces a miracle, which is the title of the opera’s concluding section – ‘Il Miracolo’. When performed by a great singing actress this final part of the opera is one of the most moving in the genre’s entire history and justifies the slow moving details that preceded it. Of course, the critics hated the work at its first presentation and still look down on it, especially its ending which I find so compelling. Audiences also find it so. It was performed 305 times worldwide during the 2015/16 season.
‘The Miracle’ is variously staged. The libretto’s directions are below. Some less than well informed observers have even criticized stagings that exactly follow instructions. Stage directors being what they are, sometimes the scene is played out with nothing at all happening. I’d have the composer’s instructions carried out as written.
This recording, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Victoria de los Angeles as Puccini’s mistreated nun, was made in 1957. The conductor and singer fully realize the pathos built into the work which could melt all but a critic’s wooly heart. It starts just after the conclusion of ‘Senza mamma’ and goes to the opera’s end. Eleven and a half minutes of the most emotionally charged music Puccini ever wrote. Suor Angelica finale
(Suor Angelica vede il miracolo compiersi: la chiesetta sfolgora di mistica luce, la porta si apre: apparisce la Regina del conforto, solenne, dolcissima e, avanti a Lei, un bimbo biondo, tutto bianco….)
SUOR ANGELICA: Ah!….
(La Vergine sospinge, con dolce gesto, il bimbo verso la moribonda….)
SUOR ANGELICA: Ah!….
(Sister Angelica sees the miracle taking place. The little church suddenly becomes resplendent with mystic light. The door opens and the Queen of comfort appears, solemn, with a sweet expression on her face and, in front of her, a blond child, all white, is seen.)
SISTER ANGELICA: Ah!
(The Virgin gently, with the kindest of gestures, pushes the child towards the dying mother….)
SISTER ANGELICA: Ah!
