Dialogues of the Carmelites -- reviews

So I didn't see the DoC although Yong and I saw Don Giovanni in France...more on Don Giovanni and France later.... but I was impressed that I already saw a review on the DOC in the NJ Star Ledger (a newspaper I didn't even know existed in my home state!)

It's an OK review-- more about the stage setting. Having seen the Newark cathedral for 2006 Christmas mass, I have to admit that it is quite impressive. I didn't think Newark had much--other than a convenient airport -- which is not even that convenient given 9/11 -- but the cathedral is impressive.

How impressive? Well apparently, Mother (now Saint) Theresa had visited the cathedral and one cannot help but be impressed by the ornate carvings and flying buttresses. From a Methodist-raised perspective, the grandeur of the Catholic church always awes and amazes.

Personally I'm glad that Jen finally had an impressive venue-- and as friends and family know, Jen aka the NYOS did pretty much ALL of the work into that production. Yay Go Jen! You got great photos!

Dialogues of the Carmelites *with photos!*

Here are great pix of the Dialogues of the Carmelites... hey I think that's Jen the Nun standing up in the last photo.

So if you are like me-- average opera aficionado, I had no idea what the DoC was. So here's the excerpt: In addition to the three anniversaries of the Carmelite Jubilee, 2007 also marks the 50th anniversary of the premier of “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” with its first performance given at La Scala on January 26, 1957.

“Dialogues of the Carmelites” is based on a true story – although the inspiration came from the novel, The Last to the Scaffold by Gertrude von Lefort. During the final days of the French Revolution, the Committee of Public Safety was created to preserve the reforms of the revolution. Their aim was to eliminate all counter-revolutionary elements – including individuals whose primary devotion was to their faith. This aim resulted in the Reign of Terror, a period characterized by a wave of executions. On June 24, 1794, sixteen nuns from the Monastery of the Incarnation in Compiègne were arrested and thrown into prison for failing to obey orders to stop practicing their faith. While singing hymns, they were guillotined in Paris on July 17, 1794; they were beatified by Pope Pius X in 1906.

Pretty moving and tragic, which is great material for opera. From a historical non-Catholic perspective, I had no idea of this event, so it's particularly gratifying to know that an art form can preserve historic moments and help enlighten us-- especially since this a specifically female event.

Plus I think Jen looks good in a wimple!!

First Posting!

Dear family and friends,

So as many of you know, Jen Cho, my dear sister and fierce arts lover, has started her own non-profit company, the New York Opera Society so that she could pursue a life-long love of opera, classical music, and that je ne sais quoi vibe of NYC and the arts.

Since this is second year she's successfully produced an opera in south-western France (of all places) and completed a religious opera in NJ, "Dialogues of the Carmelites" at the Newark Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, we finally have a body of work and content to justify a blog!

Plus although we all thought that Jen has an amazing vocal instrument, those of you who came to my wedding, hopefully heard her performance of Caro Mio Ben and Ava Maria.... we never dreamed that she'd start a non-profit that has reached this level of scale and sophistication.

So hopefully this blog will be the informal means by which the sisters, all scattered in NY, Seattle, and California can share photos, great travel memories, international friendships, and all that good stuff that they say the Web is supposed to do. *big smile*

awwww....

Much love,

Pauline