"The Miracle of Saint Jude" (Opera in One Act) [2022]: Concert Premiere

Emmanuel Sikora, composer/librettist
Ukrainian Festival Orchestra and Chorus
King Arthur - Stepan Drobit
Barnabas - Roman Hrabovenskyi
Ivan Ostapovych, conductor
Synopsis: King Arthur and his knights are at the round table, praying to Saint Jude, to avoid a war against Barnabas and his approaching army. Barnabas himself appears. Once a knight of the round table, he has sworn vengeance for not being chosen by them as King, being of royal blood. In a blind range he lunges at the knights, but before the first blow in drawn Saint Jude appears in a vision. He makes the sign of the cross, at which Barnabas sinks prostrate to the ground. Arthur and his knights kneel before Jude, proclaiming "all hearts rise to you, O Prince of Peace, in the light of the saints."
Program Notes: Of the four short-story operas, the plot of "The Miracle of Saint Jude" is the least convincing. The music, however, is first-rate, weaving a somber tapestry from two motifs (one associated with Barnabas, the other with Saint Jude), that remains solid where the pedestrian libretto may be lacking.
[Synopsis and Notes by Bill Rainer]
Sinopsis (Esp.): El Rey Arturo y sus caballeros están en la mesa redonda, rezando a San Judas, para evitar una guerra contra Bernabé y su ejército que se aproxima. Aparece el mismo Bernabé. Una vez que un caballero de la mesa redonda, ha jurado venganza por no ser elegido por ellos como Rey, siendo de sangre real. En un rango ciego, se lanza sobre los caballeros, pero antes del primer golpe aparece San Judas en una visión. Hace la señal de la cruz, ante lo cual Bernabé se hunde postrado en tierra. Arturo y sus caballeros se arrodillan ante Judas, proclamando "todos los corazones se elevan hacia ti, oh Príncipe de la Paz, a la luz de los santos".
Notas del programa: De las cuatro óperas de cuentos, la trama de "El milagro de San Judas" es la menos convincente. La música, sin embargo, es de primer nivel, tejiendo un tapiz sombrío a partir de dos motivos (uno asociado con Bernabé, el otro con San Judas), que permanece sólido donde puede faltar el libreto peatonal.
[Sinopsis y notas de Bill Rainer]
Performed September 2, 2022
Camerawork courtesy of the L'viv Organ Hall

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