Review: Suor Angelica

Guests were given a program that looks like a bookmark upon arriving to the Basilica of Saint Mary for Suor Angelica.We were then pointed in the direction of a basement-level multi-purpose room, where we settle into the arc of folding chairs arranged in front of the orchestra and examine our minimalist programs. The front of the single piece of cardstock featured the show name and an image of a nun facing away from the viewer, highlighted by a deep red spotlight. The other side of the program had four QR codes. One of these QR codes leads to the full program. The other three are labeled with a room name (The Cloister, The Chapel, and The Nave) and lead to a brief description of the storyline portrayed in that room. 

This was an immersive production of Giacomo Puccini’s Suor Angelica. The audience follows the orchestra through the basilica. The cast catches up once everyone has settled into their chairs. All three spaces were well utilized, but the chapel and the nave were especially powerful. The chapel is a cramped, dimly lit space with low ceilings. It is an ideal setting for the passionate, private argument between Suor Angelica (Alexandra Loutsion) and La Principessa (Alice Chung). 

Chung leans into La Principessa with a severe elegance; she filled the tiny chapel to overflowing with her magnificent voice. Loutsion matched Chung’s vocals but trades her severity for a heartbroken earnestness. The scene concludes with Loutsion’s dramatic sprint for the exit. Her gasping sobs fade as she staggers down the hallway. It could be cheesy, but in the hush of the chapel, which still reverberates with the strength and the passion of two voices and a full orchestra, the room just feels steeped in tragedy. 

The audience often catches glimpses of Stephen Hargreaves’ heartfelt, gentle conducting due to the placement of the orchestra in each room. Maybe it is just the latent choir kid in me, but being on the receiving end of his conducting deepened my connection to the music. All of the nuns are powerful singers and performers – Natalia Harrison and Eryn Tvete were two highlights for me. I was also delighted to see that Corissa Bussian was a part of the cast. She has been a growing favorite of mine in the last couple of years. Her joyful stage presence and lovely soprano voice are a perfect fit for Sister Dolcina. 

I could go deep on everything that made this production of Suor Angelica so special. I could wax poetic on the levity of the cloister and the drama of the nave, but I’m trying to keep it brief. Suffice it to say that the creative vision and direction of this production, both on the part of Out of the Box Opera and the Basilica of Saint Mary, is impeccable. 

There are only two nights remaining of this special production. Of course, we here at Lavender recognize that this is Pride weekend, but if you have not yet filled your social calendar for tonight or tomorrow afternoon, this show is well worth a break from the festivities. And it’s a short piece! The night I attended we started a little after 7 and ended shortly after 8:30 – which included the short walks from room to room.

I have three suggestions to maximize your experience:

1. Make sure you read the plot summary before each scene. There are no supertitles in this production and although it is freeing to experience the opera only knowing the broad strokes of the story, if you don’t know those broad strokes, you will be confused. The music stands on its own, but let’s be real: you want to know what is happening.
2. Bring a mask. I was surprised by the size of the audience and I wished that I had a mask with me –  especially in the chapel where it was stuffy before we even sat down.
3. Remember that taking photos (not flash) and videos is allowed at these performances! I never felt like I had a good enough angle and you definitely shouldn’t record for long stretches of time, but this is Out of the Box Opera. Capturing and sharing a moment that strikes you is encouraged.

Tickets are still available for the times below at the website linked below.

Puccini’s Suor Angelica
June 28 at 7 PM
June 29 at 2 PM
Basilica of Saint Mary, 88 N. 17th St, Minneapolis
www.outoftheboxopera.org