Evening star., 1955-06-26
NEWS OF MUSIC
Menotti Opero, Opening Thursday,
Portroys Clash of Reason and Faith

Gian-Carlo Menotti's musi.
cal drama The Saint oi
Bleecker Street., which opens
a two week run at the Carter
Barron Amphitheater Thurs
day, is said by many who have
seen 1t to be one of the most
impressive contemporary op.
eras. It unquestionably is one
OF the few that is not aimed al
q limited audience, but has
been written for every theater-
goer whatever his background
that is. without regard fol-
his prejudices.
Menotti's, intimate friend
Chandler Cowles, who has pro-
duced all Of the composers
New York shows. wrote the fol-
lowing clearly authoritative re-
marks on the opera, here print
ed for the first time. Like a
classic prologue they set forth
the problem of the tragedy
without either pleading or un-
wanted anticipation:
Cast and Settings
The action of the opera
takes place in and around
Bleecker street, New York
City, in the present time. The
characters are all Italian
Americans. Menotti has fash
ioned the opera for a cast of
10 principals and a chorus of
80. The settings include a
cold-water fiat in the tene-
mentS Of Bleecker street, a
vacant lot on Mulberry street,
an Italian restaurant-bar, and
an underground subway sta
ton.
In producing THE Saint of
Bleecker Street" we found
1T Is one Of the biggest musical
productions ever assembled for
the American legitimate thea
ter (the orchestra alone is
81 players. Although the set
tings are only four. they are
all big ones and are compli-
Gated to manipulate.
Like all of Menotti's other
works for the theater (includ-
ing an unproduced plan, an
annually produced TV opera
and two unproduced film
scripts, '"The Saint of Bleecker
Street." is wholly original. It
is neither adapted from a
novel nor taken from q COM
plete incident in life. I know
that he has been inspired by
many elements which have
suggested theatrical ideas.
Teasing Phrase in Opera
Back in 1947 when we were
struggling with the Broadway
run of THE Medium" we used
to tease him necessarily about
being a foreigner and would
say, IF you don't like it here.
go back to where you came
from"
In 1850, he and I drove from
Paris to Rome where the film
Of "The Medium" was to be
made. We crossed into Italy
from the San Bernardo Pass
Tin the Italian Alps). AS we
left the Italian immigration
Office heading for Turino. I
took a deep breath, realizing
this was my first visit into
Italy. Menotti turned to me,
and in a loud, croaking voice
he shouted, "You foreigner. if
you don't like it here. go back
to where you came from!"
My surprise and wonder
reached new heights when I
saw the second act of "The
Saint Of Bleecker Street" for
the first time last summer and
came across the same old
phrase in the big aria of
Michele when he describes his
bitterness and humiliation II
do not want to belong, belong
to this new world. I don't
want to be told, You foreigner,
60 back to your old country.
You foreigner. go back to your
old home"
Suggested by Painting
Just as "Amahl and the
Night Visitors" was first sug-
gested to Menotti by a paint
ing in the Metropolitan Muse
UNI by Heironymus Bosch, 1.-THE
Saint Of Bleecker Street" was
first suggested to Menotti by
another painting. This one
was done by a close friend Of
his who died seven years ago.
Her name was Malena, and
the painting shows a nun fac
ing forward with her hands
extended out in front of her.
The other influence which
has always been a big one to
Menotti is st. Francis of Assist
whose own personal antipathy
to human authority was over
come only by a most frightful
struggle and the will to con-
form to what his faith had
revealed as truth. For Francis
Of Assist was both saint and
rebel. I believe that this COM
bination is the basis of Gian-
Carlo Menotti's devotion to
him. 1t is an explanation
which suits me for Menotti
himself.
Sanctity and Rebellion
The principal dramatic
theme of the opera is the con-