Gianni Schicchi Opens April 28 as 2022-2023 HOT Season's Third Opera

Summary: Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens April 28 as the third 2022-2023 HOT season opera and closes the lineup of The Secret Garden and The Elixir of Love.

Hawai'i Opera Theatre's closing 2022-2023 opera, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, hilariously preposterizes an event in Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy) by medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri (May/June 1265-Sep. 14, 1321): Hawaii Opera Theatre, via Facebook July 20, 2022

Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens April 28 as the third 2022-2023 HOT season opera and closes the lineup that featured autumn's The Secret Garden and winter's The Elixir of Love.

Gianni Schicchi receives two performances in the comic opera's debut season at Hawai'i Opera Theatre (HOT). Opening night is scheduled for Friday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. A closing matinee takes place Sunday, April 30, at 4:00 p.m.

Gianni Schicchi will be performed in Italian, along with English supertitles. The performance lasts for approximately one hour. No intermission is scheduled.

Gianni Schicchi (pronounce: jahn-nee skee-kee) by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) numbers as the third installment of Il Trittico (The Triptych), a collection of three one-act operas. The Italian libretto, written by Italian librettist and playwright Giovacchino Forzano (Nov. 19, 1884-Oct. 28, 1970), traces to an episode in Canto XXX of the first cantica, Inferno, of Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy) by medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri (May/June 1265-Sep. 14, 1321). The Metropolitan Opera hosted Il Trittico's premiere Saturday, Dec. 1918. The unrelated trio received seven performances in its premiere season.

Mark Morash conducts both performances of the 2022-2023 HOT season's third, closing opera. The Canadian conductor and pianist had made his HOT debut in the 2016-2017 season's three performances (Friday, Jan. 27; Sunday, Jan. 29; Tuesday, Jan. 31) of A Streetcar Named Desire by German-American composer, conductor and pianist André George Previn (born Andreas Ludwig Priwin, April 6, 1929-Feb. 28, 2019).

Gregory Keller (born July 1, 1974) directs the 2022-2023 HOT season's production of Gianni Schicchi. The American stage director had made his HOT debut in the 2021-2022 season's three performances (Friday, April 8; Sunday, April 10; Tuesday, April 12) of Puccini's Madame Butterfly (Madama Butterfly).

Joshua Jeremiah sings the title role of a clever father who enriches himself and secures a happy marriage for his daughter, Lauretta, by impersonating the deceased Buoso Donati. The American baritone's appearances mark his HOT debut.

Brian Vu appears as Rinuccio, whose Aunt Zita, deceased Buoso Donati's cousin, conditions her nephew's marriage upon relatives replacing a monastery as benefactors of Donati's will. The American tenor's performances as Rinuccio mark his HOT debut.

Blythe Kelsey portrays Zita, cousin of the deceased Buoso Donati and aunt of lovestruck Rinuccio. The Hawaiian mezzo-soprano most recently performed in the 2021-2022 season's two performances (Friday, March 11; Sunday, March 13) of Re-Emerging: HOT Live in Concert, Hawai'i Opera Theatre's celebration of the opera company's resumption of live performances. Since the age of 12, she has been associated with HOT productions, according to her biography on the concert's page at Hawai'i Opera Theatre's website. Blythe Iakuinipua'okahana Kelsey, sister of Hawaiian baritone and Met Opera singer Quinn Kamakanalani Kelsey, serves as HOT's Director of Artistic Administration.

Leslie Goldman performs as Nella, wife of Buoso Donati's nephew Gherardo and mother of Gherardino. The American mezzo-soprano's portrayal of Nella numbers as her second role in the 2022-2023 HOT season. She sang the maternal role of Susan Sowerby in the season opener, The Secret Garden by American composer and musicologist Nolan Ira Gasser (born Nov. 10, 1964).

Leslie's and Blythe Kelsey's appearances in Gianni Schicchi mark their second consecutive season of HOT production sharing. Leslie joined Blythe in the 2021-2022 season's Re-Emerging HOT in Concert.

Leslie's HOT repertoire also intersects with Blythe's brother. In the 2018-2019 season, Quinn and Leslie were cast in La Traviata by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901). Quinn sang Giorgio Germont, whose son loves courtesan Violetta Valéry. Leslie sang Annina, maid to la traviata ("the fallen woman").

Robert Feng sings Betto di Segna, Buoso Donati's impoverished brother-in-law. His portrayal of Betto in the 2022-2023 season's closing opera numbers as the season's second role for the Chinese-American bass. He appeared as gardener Ben Weatherstaff in the season's opener.

Puerto Rican bass Ricardo Lugo leads a trio of inheritance-seeking relatives in his portrayal of Simone, another Donati cousin. American tenor and The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's Music Department Chair Larry (Laurence) Paxton appears as Simone's son, Marco. American mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin sings La Ciesca, Marco's wife.

American tenor and Executive Director of Manoa Valley Theatre Kip Wilborn performs in two roles in Gianni Schicchi. He sings Maestro Spinelloccio, Buoso Donati's doctor, who mistakes Gianni Schicchi's mimicry for his patient's voice, and Ser Amantio di Nicolao, the unsuspecting notary who records a new will dictated by Donati impersonator Gianni Schicchi.

Puccini's Gianni Schicchi closes Hawai'i Opera Theatre as the 2022-2023 HOT season's third opera. The season marks the 62nd year of performances for the opera company. Hawai'i Opera Theatre's first opera, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, received three performances (Saturday, March 4; Sunday, March 5; Tuesday, March 7) in 1961.

Puccini's Zita is sung by Blythe Iakuinipua'okahana Kelsey, sister of world-famous Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kamakanalani Kelsey; photo of Blythe (center) with music-loving parents, Debbie and Christopher "Chris" Kelsey: Hawaii Opera Theatre, via Facebook Oct. 20, 2020

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Hawai'i Opera Theatre's closing 2022-2023 opera, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, hilariously preposterizes an event in Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy) by medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri (May/June 1265-Sep. 14, 1321): Hawaii Opera Theatre, via Facebook July 20, 2022, @ https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiOpera/posts/pfbid0KfwtbC7NfJ32xkn1jWFQD5nVXh3ec4z48Kwx4DuzvXQzMKsgLrKsNuDjY7wzy7kAl

Puccini's Zita is sung by Blythe Iakuinipua'okahana Kelsey, sister of world-famous Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kamakanalani Kelsey; photo of Blythe (center) with music-loving parents, Debbie and Christopher "Chris" Kelsey: Hawaii Opera Theatre, via Facebook Oct. 20, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiOpera/posts/10157890317772712/

For further information:

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Hawaii Opera Theatre. "Closing the season in April, we have Gianni Schicchi, a hilarious one-act farce filled with ridiculous plans, hijinks, and trickery. This is the perfect opera for first-timers, and even though it's brief, it will leave you in stitches while humming Puccini’s glorious melodies. #OperaSeason #ExpericneOpera #SubscribeAndSave #TheSecretGarden #ElixerOfLove #GianniSchicchi #OperaIsForEveryone #Honolulu #HonoluluEvents #Music #Song #LocalTalent #Blaisdell #Opera #LastShowOfTheSeason #Hawaii #Aloha⁠ #Florence." Facebook. July 20, 2022.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiOpera/posts/pfbid0KfwtbC7NfJ32xkn1jWFQD5nVXh3ec4z48Kwx4DuzvXQzMKsgLrKsNuDjY7wzy7kAl

Hawaii Opera Theatre. "Our 2022/2023 season features three productions that all celebrate light and life! We're excited to announce the first production this season, The Secret Garden. One of the most beloved children's stories blossoms on stage this October with The Secret Garden, an enchanting opera that the whole family will love! This inspiring story -- in a new production featuring a tropical flair -- shows how lives can be transformed when our imagination is unlocked. ⁠Stay tuned to discover which show is next! With tickets starting as low as $30, we invite you to experience opera with aloha this season! ⁠#OperaSeason #ExpericneOpera #SubscribeAndSave #TheSecretGarden #OperaIsForEveryone #Honolulu #HonoluluEvents #Music #Song #LocalTalent #Blaisdell #Opera #Sing #FirstShowOfTheSeason #WhatsNext." Facebook. July 18, 2022.
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Hawaii Opera Theatre. "We send aloha and condolences to the Kelsey 'Ohana, who mourn the passing of Debbie Kelsey. A long-time member of the HOT Chorus, she gave the gift of music to the HOT 'Ohana and has inspired countless generations through her work at University Lab School, Central Union Church, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club, and the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club. She will be remembered, missed, and celebrated. #restinaloha." Facebook. Oct. 20, 2020.
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