The Presentation

Excerpts of the opera will be played during the presentation. Harvey will provide an overview of the story of the opera and point of hightlights of the performance.

The Opera - La Sonambula

La Sonnambula (Vincenzo Bellini) (10/17): Anina and Elvino are a young couple who are planning to be married in a small Swiss village. Anina has a secret, she wanders the village in her sleep. This raises the suspicions of her intended and the rest of the village, especially when it draws the attention of a visiting Count Roberto.

La Boheme (Puccini) (11/7): Four friends, starving artists all, share a garret in Paris. One friend, Rudolfo, falls in love with a local seamstress Mimi. Alas, their love is marred by Rudolfo's jealousy, which puts an end to their relationship until he finds out that Mimi is dying of consumption.

Arbella (Richard Strauss) (11/21) A family struggles with financial woes caused by the father's gambling. Their hope lies in marrying off their daughter to a rich man. Their trouble is compounded by the fact that they have two daughters, so the younger one is passed off as a son. Arabella is uninspired by her current suitors until Count Mandryka steps into her life.

Andrea Chenier (Umberto Giordano) (12/12). During the French Revolution, Cernier is a liberal voice and poet. He falls in love with Madeline, daughter of his former employer, who is an aristocrat. He and Madelena attempt to escape revolutionary Paris, but this draws the suspicion of Carlos who has the couple arrested and scheduled to meet the guillotine.

I Puritani (Vincenzo Bellini) (9/1/2026). In the English Civil War the Puritans and the Royalists battle. Elvira, daughter of the Puritan leader, is in love with the Royalist Arturo. Elvira's father would prefer her to marry Riccardo, but allows the marriage to Arturo. Before he can marry Elvira Arturo has a secret mission to fulfill - rescue the Queen from the Puritans. Elvira sees him depart with the Queen, which causes her to go mad, thinking that Arturo is betraying her.

Tristan und Isolde (Richard Wagner) (3/20/26) Ricard Wagner's famous love poem. Tristan is a young Welch knight, who goes to Ireland to capture Isolde, a princess and sorceress, and bring her to his Lord King Marke as a bride. Isolde is falling in love with Tristan even though he killed her Irish suitor. Isolde tries to give Tristan a poison drink but her nursemaid, Brangane switches it with a love potion. The court discovers their tryst and Tristan is stabbed. Isolde sings the famous Liebestod (Love Death) as Tristan dies.

Eugene Onegin (Pyotr Tschaikovsky) (30/4/26) Eugene Onegin is a bored aristocrat visiting his friend Lensky at his Russian estates. He meets Olga, Lensky's lover, and Tatyana, her sister. Tatayana is intensely struck by Onegin and writes him an impassioned letter declaring her love. Onegin has no interest and rejects her. At a party Onegin flirts with Olga, which prompts Lensky to challenge him to a duel. Lensky is killed.

Years later Onegin meets Tatyana again at a ball in St. Petersburg. He declares his affection for her, but she rejects him as she is now happily married.

El Ultimo Sueño de Frida y Diego (Gabriella Frank) (5/28/26) A new opera! Frida Khalo is dead, Diego Riviera is still alive. They meet in the Inframundo on the Day of the Dead to reestablish their love.

The Presenter

Harvey Nystrom, a retiree to Oaxaca, has brought his passion and knowledge along with his substantial collection of opera DVDs to share with us.