IL POSTINO (Catan) Los Angeles CA 2010 Placido Domingo, Charles Castronovo

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IL POSTINO by Daniel Catan
LA Opera, Los Angeles, California
2010

CAST

Charles Castronovo Mario Ruoppolo
Plácido Domingo – Pablo Neruda
Cristina Gallardo Domas – Matilde Neruda
Amanda Squitieri – Beatrice Russo
Nancy Fabiola Herrera – Donna Rosa
Gabriel Osuna – Mario’s Father
Jose Adan Perez – Di Cosimo
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Conductor: Grant Gershon
LA Opera Orchestra

Stage Director: Ron Daniels
Stage Designer: Riccardo Hernandez
Costume Designer: Riccardo Hernandez
Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton
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Il Postino is an opera in three acts by Daniel Catán with a Spanish libretto by the composer. Based on the novel Ardiente paciencia by Antonio Skármeta and the film Il Postino by Michael Radford, the work contains elements of drama and comedy, integrating themes of love and friendship along with political and spiritual conflict. The opera premiered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion by Los Angeles Opera on 23 September 2010.

Set on a small Italian island, exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda receives so much fan mail that a personal postman, Mario Ruoppolo, is hired to deliver his letters. Mario, smitten by Beatrice Russo, turns to Pablo for help writing poetry that would help him win the heart of the woman he longs for. Soon after, Mario and the barmaid fall in love and wed. In the third act, influenced by Pablo’s works, Mario begins writing political poems and while reciting at a communist demonstration, violence breaks out and he receives a gunshot wound, killing him.

Il Postino was commissioned by Los Angeles Opera who co-produced the premiere production with the Theater an der Wien in Vienna and Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Daniel Catán wrote the role of Pablo Neruda for Plácido Domingo, who sang it at the Los Angeles premiere and in subsequent performances in Vienna and Paris.

Setting: The fictional Italian island of Cala di Sotto during the 1950s

Prelude
Di Cosimo, a politician running for office on the island, sings a nationalist song. Soon after, an announcement is made on the radio stating that Pablo Neruda, a great Chilean poet, has arrived in Rome. Exiled, he will live on the island of Cala di Sotto.

Scene 1: “No papá, no hay agua”
In his bedroom, Mario describes to his father how much he dislikes working as a fisherman. He then reveals that he has found a new job working as a postman.

Scene 2: “Tus manos…”
The following day, Pablo is reading on the patio when his wife Matilde arrives. Embracing her, he poetically sings “Desnuda” (“Nude”), relating her and her body to the beauty of nature.

Scene 3: “Buenos dias…su correo”
Mario arrives, delivering Pablo’s mail. Catching the couple in an embrace, Pablo quickly turns to Mario and collects his mail, meeting him for the first time.

Scene 4: “Mujer! Mujer!”
At the post office, Mario sits with postmaster Giorgio, examining the letters to be delivered to Pablo. Discovering that most of the letters are from women, Mario tells Giorgio that he bought one of Pablo’s books and wants to have it signed so that he can impress others.

During the next delivery, Mario tells Pablo that he wants to become a poet so that he too can have women fall in love with him. Pablo tells him to observe the world around him and discover its metaphors. Using the sea as an example, Pablo sings “Oda al mar” (“Ode to the Sea”), describing the blue water as it spills and moves. Mario soon begins to understand Pablo’s words in the duet “Metaforas” (“Metaphors”).

Scene 6: Romanza
The barmaid Beatrice Russo is introduced, singing a romanza while working in a local café. Mario, taken by her beauty, approaches her. The two play a game of table soccer and Beatrice beats him handily. Mario learns her name.

Scene 7: “Don Pablo!”
Pablo arrives at the docks. Mario, holding a delivery of mail, runs to him and confesses that he is in love with Beatrice. Pablo laughs. Mario asks him for help writing a poem to impress Beatrice but Pablo declines as he does not know her. Giving Pablo his mail, Mario declines payment.

Scene 8: “Ya duerme el mar”
In chorus, the dockworkers sing of the sea.

Scene 1: “Que haces?”
Beatrice is in her bedroom thinking of Mario. Her aunt, Donna Rosa enters the room and is displeased by her niece’s contact with the younger man. Beatrice, falling in love with Mario, tells her aunt that he spoke to her in metaphors. Soon they argue over Mario’s intentions and Donna Rosa finds a letter from Mario. She takes it away and leaves the room.

Scene 2: “Tus manos…”
Di Cosimo, seeking votes at the next election, promises to bring water to the island. Giorgio and others complain that he’s been promising this for years. Di Cosimo calls them liars and states that it wasn’t him making the promises. Excited at the prospect of workers coming to the island and becoming customers, Donna Rosa pledges her support for Di Cosimo.

Scene 3: Love Duet #1
Mario approaches Beatrice in the evening, singing more metaphors in an effort to impress her. Influenced by her aunt, Beatrice is reluctant to accept Mario’s advances.

Scene 4: “Te caíste de la cama”
In his next delivery, Mario brings Pablo an audio reel. Pablo gives him a book that will help him with his metaphors, then introduces him to a sound recorder. The device plays, telling them that Pablo’s book is a big success in Chile and will be re-printed.

Scene 5: “Léamela Padre”
Distressed, Donna Rosa runs to the priest and gives him Mario’s letter to read. Upon hearing the letter, Donna Rosa is horrified by the contents of the poetry written to Beatrice.

Mario and Beatrice meet in the night, sharing an embrace. With a gun, Donna Rosa comes looking for them, calling out for her niece. Mario and Beatrice share a kiss and Beatrice runs away.

Scene 7: “Chile la sangre de tus hijos”
Pablo receives a letter from Chile telling him that there is more bloodshed. Singing “Chile la sangre de tus hijos” (“Chile, blood of your children”) Pablo laments the lives lost and the difficulties back at home. Matilde enters the room and Pablo shares his grief. Mario arrives, wanting to speak to Pablo but waits as the couple embraces. Exchanging their affection, Pablo and Matilde sing “Comprendo” (“I Understand”).

Scenes 8 and 9: “Señor Neruda!”
Donna Rosa cries out Pablo’s name. In a panic, Mario runs into Pablo’s room and hides. Donna Rosa arrives with a gun and tells Pablo that Mario is poisoning her niece with metaphors. She threatens to shoot Mario if he meets with Beatrice again, then leaves.

Scene 10: Love Duet #3
Alone, Mario sings out to Beatrice. Beatrice responds and they soon meet, sharing their love for each other. Donna Rosa tries to pursue them unsuccessfully.

Scene 11: “The Wedding”
Mario and Beatrice wed. After the wedding, the guests gather at a table and celebrate. Donna Rosa, unhappy with the marriage, greets Mario hesitantly. Mario’s father sings a song which is followed by a speech given from Mario. Pablo sings a song for the newlywed couple and the guests celebrate.

Prelude and Scene 1: “No, Don Pablo”
Pablo and Matilde are preparing for their trip home to Chile. Pablo offers Mario money as he will soon be unemployed. Reluctantly he accepts and the two say goodbye.

Scenes 2–5: “Qué Pasa”
Workers are laying the water pipe promised by Di Cosimo. Giorgio arrives and tells Mario that Pablo is giving an award in Russia. Di Cosimo’s thugs arrive, passing out flyers. Word comes that Pablo is in Paris. In an interview Pablo states that he misses the island but not the people, causing some to get upset and feel forgotten.

News comes that Di Cosimo has won the election. Soon he arrives, notifying Donna Rosa that all water work is being aborted, breaking his promise. Mario approaches Di Cosimo and is threatened.

An impersonal letter arrives from Pablo’s secretary asking Mario to send the man’s remaining items to Chile. Hurt, Mario feels forgotten and sings “Más bien era yo” (“Rather it was me”). Beatrice tells Mario that she’s pregnant.

Scene 7: “Comprendo”
Returning to Pablo’s home, Mario finds the recording of him and Pablo. On the recording Pablo sings “Comprendo” (“I Understand”).

Scene 8: “Estás seguro?”
Mario retrieves the audio recorder. He and Giorgio connect the device to a battery and travel the island, collecting its sounds.

Scene 9:”Es Curioso” Time passes and Pablo and Matilde return to the island. Looking for Mario, they find Beatrice where she explains that Mario was invited to read his poetry at a communist demonstration. The event turned violent and Mario was shot and killed.

Duet: “Querido Don Pablo” (Mario’s Farewell)
Pablo is given a recording of Mario. In the recording Mario thanks Pablo for bringing poetry into his life.

Quoted from Wikipedia