Artist

Admin

Conductor

Caleb Glickman

Stage director

Alison Pogorelc

Set designer

Sean Haffey

Lighting designer

Baron Leon

Costume designer

Natasha Cox

Sound designer

Patrick Kiernan

Makeup artist

Kelly Yurko

Hairstylist

Repetiteur

Marie-France Lefebvre

Singer

Victoria Ellington

Léontine

Rachel Kobernick

Haksung Lee

Valcour

Justin Burgess

Ophémon

Erik Nordstrom

Jinpark Choi

Colin

Logan Wagner

Ariana Maubach

Dorothée

Tess Klibanoff

Felicity Tomkins

Jeannette

Tanya Harris

Company Ensemble (Chorus)

Yasmine Bougacha

Violin I

Mable Lecrone

Violin II

Violet Huang

Cello

Samantha Powell

Cello II

Naomi Sarchet

Bass

Gongming Jiang

Harpsichord

Orchestra

CCM L'amant Anonyme Orchestra Roster

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

French

Cristina Pardo Ramírez

L'Amant anonyme -  (L'Amant Anonyme)

Cincinnati

United States

Corbett Center for the Performing Arts

Cohen Family Studio Theater

L'Amant anonyme Bologne Chevalier De Saint-Georges

Public

Opera

L'Amant Anonyme

English

Approved

Photography: Mark Lyons
(Featured Cast in Production Photos: 18th/20th February)

In the past year, there has been increased attention surrounding this neglected 1780 chamber opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Bologne’s extraordinary life, artistic success and influence have recently captured the interest of many, as he was a pioneering Black composer, contemporary with Haydn and Mozart. 

On the surface, his charming chamber opera, L’Amant Anonyme, explores themes of love and romance typical in the High Enlightenment period and sexual awakening that occured during the late 18th century. At that time, there was an increasing rejection of grand baroque spectacles and a newfound interest in themes relating to a more personal human nature. 

Such is the case for this opera, as well as its source material, the play by Stéphanie Félicité de Genlis. Similar to our composer, Madame de Genlis has fallen into a kind of anonymity, though her accomplishments as a writer and educationalist are just as exceptional — especially for a woman of that period.

As I began my work on L’Amant Anonyme, I was first struck by the charming moments of absurdity juxtaposed with intense emotionality represented by the strum und drang musical style. At its core, this piece is an exploration into the fear of the unknown; what it means to leave the comfort of familiarity and trust in new (and sometimes anonymous) possibilities. 

I quickly began to draw parallels to the cinematic style of the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague), a film movement in the 1950s and '60s which gave birth to a new filmmaking approach, rejecting the traditional techniques of larger film studios. The films of the French New Wave are highly self-aware, often deemphasizing plot to focus on universal themes, such as human existence and love. 

Many New Wave directors embraced naturalism and spontaneity, which along with their low-budgets and improvisational style creates a “homemade” or “anti-technique” quality. 

Our production channels the philosophical and stylistic ideas of this cinematic movement, both aesthetically and dramatically pushing the boundaries of what might be deemed “traditional” for a piece of this period. Taking inspiration from the films of Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Demy, Agnes Varda, and other directors of the movement, we bridge naturalism with surreal extremes to highlight the intense emotional journey of our protagonist Léontine as she struggles to move on from her past and embrace the unknown. 

It seems only fitting that this piece, conceived by two mavericks in their day, be approached in a style which challenges dramatic expectations. We hope that our interpretation of this piece highlights the durability of their work and encourages our audience to explore other anonymous artists whom history has forgotten.

L'Amant Anonyme by Bologne Chevalier De Saint-Georges, From (2022/2022), Directed by Alison Pogorelc,, Conductor Caleb Glickman, Corbett Center for the Performing Arts, Cincinnati, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues