The Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture is once again bringing the Metropolitan Opera to Mercyhurst’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
This piece premiered at the MET in October.
On Nov. 17 at 12:55 p.m., this simulcast of “Marnie” will take place in the PAC.
Originally a novel by Winston Graham that takes place in the 1950s, “Marnie” is about a young woman who mysteriously assumes multiple identities.
It eventually inspired a film by Alfred Hitchcock.
The composer of this riveting opera is Nico Muhly. The director, Michael Mayer, creates a fast-paced cinematic story based around this young woman.
Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard sings the lead as Marnie.
Baritone Christopher Maltman performs as Marnie’s male pursuer.
Robert Spano conducts.
The opera is often sung in English, but the Met has provided German, Spanish and Italian subtitles in the past.
Act 1 introduces Marnie at her clerk job in the accounting office of Crombie & Strutt.
This is where she meets a client, Mark Rutland, who is immediately attracted to Marnie.
Marnie steals from her job, escapes, gives the money to her mother for a new house and moves onto the next town.
The character Mr. Strutt discover Marnie’s thefts and vows to see her come to justice.
In the next town, Marnie applies for a job and discovers that her interviewer is none other than Mark.
He does not appear to recognize her and gives her the job.
While it appears at first that Marnie may join in a relationship with Mark’s brother, Terry, Mark and Marnie connect over lost loved ones.
However, when Mark tries to kiss Marnie, she flees.
She tries to steal from the new company, but Mark catches her and says he will turn her in unless she marries him, which she does.
On their honeymoon, he explains that he did recognize her all along as a thief.
At the end of Act 1, Mark attempts to sexually assault her and she tries to commit suicide.
The beginning of Act 2 shows Marnie dealing with the aftermath of her suicide attempt.
Several people recognize her as the thief and threaten to expose her.
Just as Mark and Marnie are easing the original tension between them, Marnie decides she has to leave to avoid her feelings for Mark.
She breaks into the office once again to try to steal money but is again unable to take it.
Marnie discovers that her mother has passed and Mark goes to the cemetery with both his brother and the police.
Although Mark hopes he can reconcile with Marnie, she turns herself in to the police.
Opera-goers should pay attention to what the orchestra is doing in crucial moments.
The orchestra signals what is really happening despite what the characters on stage may be expressing.
The music in this opera helps to maintain the mystery throughout the series of scores. It helps create the feeling of emotions rather than dramatizing what is going on in the scenes.
For anyone looking to experience something new, this opera is for you.
Filled with good music and just the right amount of mysterious drama, “Marnie” is sure to be an adventure.
As with all MET simulcasts, tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for students and youth; Mercyhurst students with their IDs are free.