Concert Program
Vocal Arts Series
NIU Opera Theatre presents
Nina, o sia La pazza per amore (Nina, or Madly in Love)
Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m.
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
Program
| Nina, o sia La pazza per amore (Nina, or Madly in Love) | Music by Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816) Libretto by Giovanni Battista Lorenzi (1721-1807) |
Cast
Nina – Kayla Lockhart
Lindoro (3/28) – Joseph Quaynor
Lindoro (3/30) – Matthew Skirmont
Count – Daniel Chukwunyem
Giorgio – Boone Elledge
Susanna (3/28) – Rachel Yasutake
Susanna (3/30) – Emily Kmetz
Nurse – Annalee Kalbfleisch
Nurse – Emily Kmetz
Nurse – EmVi Nullas Legaspi
Nurse – Richard Magnuson
Nurse – Ryan Nelson
Nurse – Rachel Yasutake
Chorus – NIU Concert Choir
Artistic Staff
Stage Director – Dr. David Charles Tay
Music Director – Dr. Silas Huff
Assistant Conductor – Zihan Zhou
Stage Manager – Maggie Kanapilly
Collaborator – Hyounkyoung Kim
Synopsis
As the opera opens, Nina, the Count’s daughter, has had a mental breakdown due to a broken heart. We learn that she was to marry Lindoro, with her father’s approval, but on their wedding day a richer and more powerful suitor turned up, and the Count broke his word. Lindoro challenged his rival to a duel, and was killed. Now residing in a mental health center that her father owns, Nina no longer recognizes her father, and wanders around doing good deeds and buying gifts for her fellow residents, who all adore her. The Count is tortured by remorse.
Nina goes to the garden at the same hour every day to wait for her lover. Susanna, her doctor, and the nurses comfort her, and sing her favorite song. Nina sings in anticipation of meeting Lindoro, but when he fails to appear, Nina leaves flowers on the garden bench and returns to her room. One day, she hears a voice singing in the distance that sounds like Lindoro’s…
The Count’s valet Giorgio appears suddenly with good news—Lindoro is alive! Giorgio tells the Count that Lindoro is at the castle gates hoping to see his darling. The Count greets Lindoro with tears of joy and Lindoro says he was seriously wounded and nursed back to health, but—believing Nina married his rival—has stayed away until now. He is aghast to hear that his beloved has lost her mind. The Count accepts Lindoro as his son-in-law, but believing the sight of Lindoro will be too shocking for Nina to bear, tells Lindoro to disguise himself.
Finally, Lindoro and Nina meet again. Nina tells the disguised stranger that he reminds her of her fiancé, whereupon he reveals his true identity. Nina recognizes Lindoro and her father—her mental health is restored!—and the lovers are reunited.
NIU Opera Orchestra
Jake Santini, flute
Fernando Marroquin, oboe
Eduardo Zamudio, clarinet
Kaelyn Witt, bassoon
Carmen Houde, horn I
Les Stark, horn II
Jordan Weiss, violin, concertmaster
Jacob Kukielka, violin, principal second
Christian Balgeman, violin
Javier Polania Cleves, violin
Abby Edwards, violin
Reilley Farrell, violin
Vanessa Felix, violin
Mei Lin McDermott, violin
Keira Specht, violin
Sally Waterhouse, violin
Tim Liu, principal viola
Baxter Brown, viola
Emily Bychowski, viola
Jacob Seabrook, viola
Oskar Kaut, principal cello
Chris Mendez, cello
Sofia Vrettou, cello
James Zih-Cian Yu, cello
Ronnie Gorka, bass
Special Thanks
Dr. Eric Johnson, Director of Choral Activities
MinJung Kim, NIU Concert Choir Accompanist
Kyle Strain, NIU Recording Services Manager
David Doherty, Properties Director, NIU School of Theater and Dance
Cameron Davis, Transportation and Logistics
Cracker Jax