L’Amant anonyme

Opera in two acts by Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges

June 17-19, 2022 | Jarvis Opera Hall

An 18th-Century Rarity

Nicole Cabell, a Cardiff Singer of the World and acclaimed international soprano, leads the cast in her Haymarket debut as the beautiful young Léontine, widowed by an unfaithful husband. Tenor Geoffrey Agpalo, also in his company debut, portrays her dear friend Valcour, who has been wooing her with gifts and anonymous letters while he waits for her broken heart to heal. Haymarket favorites David Govertsen (Ophémon), Erica Schuller (Jeannette), Michael St. Peter (Colin), and Nathalie Colas (Dorothée) are all conspirators in the amorous ruse.

Hear the Chevalier de Saint-George’s virtuosic score played by an orchestra of Classical period instruments conducted by HOC artistic director Craig Trompeter.

In the French tradition, L’Amant anonyme overflows with stylish dance, performed by members of the Haymarket Opera Ballet.

HOC’s new production is choreographed and directed by Sarah Edgar and produced by Chase Hopkins. Stephanie Cluggish returns as costume designer. Wendy Waszut-Barrett, Brian Schneider, and Megan Pirtle make their Haymarket debuts as set, lighting, and wig designers.

Scroll down to learn more about the cast, production team, orchestra, and more about Joseph Bologne’s comedic delight, L’Amant anonyme.

Cast

Haymarket brings the Chevalier de Saint-Georges’s only extant opera to the stage in a blockbuster period production featuring a stellar cast led by soprano Nicole Cabell and Geoffrey Agpalo, with Haymarket favorites Erica Schuller, Michael St. Peter, Nathalie Colas, and David Govertsen.

Haymarket Opera Ballet

In the French tradition, L’Amant anonyme overflows with stylish dance, performed by members of the Haymarket Opera Ballet. Choreographed by baroque dance specialist Sarah Edgar, the Haymarket Opera Ballet welcomes dancers Kali Page Benz, Julie Brumfiel, Andrew Erickson and Emmanuel Ramírez.

Production & Creative Team

With Production and Technical Support:

Meghan Pirtle | Wig & Make-up Designer

Mike Sportiello | Technical Director (DePaul University)

Sam Leapley | Production & Stage Manager

A note about the musical score and text translation:

The text of L’Amant anonyme was based on a play by Felicité Ducrest, Comtesse de Genlis, and was adapted as an opera libretto by François Guillome Desfontaines for the intimate private theater of Madame de Montesson. Edward Wheatley and Mary Mackay have created a new English translation for Haymarket. Gregg Sewell has prepared a new performing score for Haymarket, based on surviving historical sources.

Orchestra

The Chevalier de Saint-George’s virtuosic score is played by a full orchestra of Classical period instruments conducted by HOC artistic director Craig Trompeter. Savor the elegant sounds of late-18th-century strings, flutes, oboes, bassoons, and horns.

Craig Trompeter | Conductor

Violin I: Jeri-Lou Zike (Leader), Wendy Benner, Adriane Post

Violin II: Martin Davids, Pauline Kempf, Ann Duggan

Viola: Liz Hagen, Kiyoe Matsuura

Cello: Anna Steinhoff, Henry Chen

Bass: Jerry Fuller

Flutes: Anita Miller Rieder, Leighann Daihl Ragusa

Oboes: Kathryn Montoya, Stephen Bard

Bassoons: Andrew Schwartz, Morgan Davidson

Horns: Paul R. Hopkins, Michael Stiles

Synopsis: L’Amant anonyme

Plot Synopsis: L’Amant anonyme

Act I

Valcour, the anonymous lover, despairs of ever experiencing the joy of loving Léontine openly. Although he is Léontine’s close friend, he knows that her previous unhappy marriage has hardened her heart to love. He can only express his love by preparing celebrations and relishing the happiness that she experiences from them. His latest token of affection is to deliver a bouquet to Léontine before a wedding in the village. Along with the bouquet, he sent a letter that tells her if she carries the bouquet to the wedding, it means she will tolerate the affections of the Anonymous One, but if she does not carry it, he will take the hint and leave her forever. 

Valcour’s confidant, Ophémon, enters the garden to tell Valcour that all is ready for the village wedding celebration, and the bouquet has been delivered. Ophémon tries to convince Valcour that after four long years of these anonymous signs of affection, he should finally reveal himself to Léontine. Ophémon thinks that Léontine’s heart has surely softened in all this time, but Valcour is unconvinced. 

Soon, Léontine and her friend, Dorothée, enter the garden, deep in an argument about the bouquet. Léontine is not sure what she should do! She does not want to make the Anonymous One think that she hates him, but she is nervous about encouraging his affections. In the end, she decides to carry the bouquet, but she is convinced that the Anonymous One can only draw the conclusion that she does not hate him.

Now the village wedding begins with singing and dancing. Not only has Valcour given Léontine the bouquet, he has also written songs in praise of love for the bride and groom, Jeanette and Colin, to sing: “Le vrai bonheur de la vie est de savoir bien aimer / True happiness in life is to know how to love well”. As Léontine, Valcour, Dorothée, and Ophémon stroll through the garden on the way to the wedding festivities, Valcour suggests that the Anonymous One might be hiding behind a tree, listening to everything. Valcour slips away from them to hide behind the tree, jumping out to proclaim himself the Anonymous One as a joke. Dorothée finds this charming, but Léontine is very shaken. Perhaps she has been hoping all along that her good friend Valcour may be in love with her.

Act II

Léontine tries to convince herself that her heart is completely immune to love, but she keeps coming back to her affection for Valcour. In the end, she begs Amour to help her, either by opening her heart or leaving her alone.

Ophémon and Valcour believe that the time has finally come to reveal the identity of the Anonymous One. But it must be done very carefully. Ophémon visits Léontine in the garden to test the extent of her desire to know who the Anonymous One is. When he is convinced that she wants to know, he piques her desire by telling her just how desperately the Anonymous One loves her. Ophémon suggests a meeting with the Anonymous One that very evening, but here Léontine is a little taken aback. It is highly unusual for a strange man to call on an unmarried woman at the end of the day! Finally, she accepts the meeting as well as the triumph of love over her heart.

Léontine is nervously expecting the Anonymous One, so she is disturbed when Valcour shows up in the garden. She definitely doesn’t want the two men to bump into each other! At first, Valcour just tells her that he is concerned about her. She seems distracted and suffering to him. Léontine repeatedly tries to get him to leave, but finally, at the moment of her greatest distress, he reveals his love to her. She loves him, too, but she is still worried that the Anonymous Lover will walk in on them until Valcour finally makes everything clear.

The mysterious affair is ended, and Dorothée enjoys a good laugh at this wonderful turn of events. Léontine and Valcour add their own nuptials to the village celebration of love, and everyone dances and sings into the night.

About the Composer: Joseph Bologne,

the Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Joseph Bologne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was among the 18th century’s most extraordinary figures. Not only was he a virtuoso violinist, composer, and conductor, he was noted as one of the greatest swordsmen of his day, and led numerous military campaigns as a high-ranking officer. Saint-Georges was born in Guadeloupe to George Bologne, his caucasian French father, and Nanon, his enslaved African mother. When his father was unjustly accused of murder, the family fled to France to avoid Joseph being sold into slavery. Within a few years his prodigious athletic and musical talents took Paris by storm and he became a society celebrity. Despite the opposition of some overtly racist factions, he rose to great acclaim as a composer of instrumental music and opera. Bologne was an active abolitionist and also championed the French revolutionary cause. Though he was imprisoned for 18 months and sentenced to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, he was eventually exonerated.

HOC is dedicated to the preservation and rejuvenation of lesser-known composers and musical works from the Age of Enlightenment. Many unsung gems from this period are regrettably denied a place in the musical canon and audiences have become habituated to hearing only a small selection of opera and oratorio by a handful of composers. Joseph Bologne was an incredibly successful performer and composer in late-18th-century France, but his compositions are rarely programmed today. His identity as one of a small number of biracial composers is significant in the history of western music. HOC will present the Midwest premiere of his only extant opera L’amant anonyme. Our performances will offer audiences the rare opportunity to experience this opera in a fully-staged historical production. We believe that its themes of patience, empathy, and devotion will resonate with today’s audiences and inspire a rich dialogue around issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Production Sponsors & Support

Lead Sponsors: Amata Suites, Jamerson & Bauwens Electric, Greg O’Leary and Patricia Kenney

Supporting Sponsors:  M. Scott Anderson, Axel Kunzmann and Bruce J. Nelson, Marjorie Stinespring, and Michael and Jessica Young 

Foundational support comes from: The Paul M. Angell Foundation, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, Helen and Curtis Pinnell Foundation, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Walder Foundation.

We are grateful for the support of these sponsors alongside the support that has come from Haymarket’s wonderful community of donors. Your gifts and contributions have helped make this performance possible. Thank you!

If you are interested to become a production sponsor, please contact general director Chase Hopkins, at chase@haymarketopera.org.

This event is for everyone! If you require access service to fully participate or have any questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@haymarketopera.org. To ensure the best experience, please try to contact us at your earliest convenience.