The set for The Garden of the Finzi-Continis is designed by John Farrell
THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS
New York City Opera / National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Edmond J. Safra Hall, 36 Battery Pl.
January 27 – February 6, $50-$125
855-449-4658
nycopera.com/shows/finzi
nytf.org/finzi-continis
Giorgio Bassani’s semiautobiographical 1962 novel, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, opens ominously enough with a description of the elaborate Finzi-Contini crypt, followed by an evaluation of their home. Bassani writes, “If the tomb of the Finzi-Contini family could be called a ‘horror,’ and smiled at, their house, isolated down there among the mosquitoes and frogs of the Panfilio Canal and the outlets of the sewers, and nicknamed enviously the magna domus, at that, no, not even after fifty years could anyone manage to smile.” The story, about a wealthy Jewish family that is more concerned with playing tennis than noticing the Fascism and anti-Semitism swirling around them in 1930s Italy, was turned into an Oscar-winning film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica starring Dominique Sanda and Helmut Berger.
Rachel Blaustein and Anthony Ciaramitaro star in world premiere of opera adaptation of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (photo © Sarah Shatz)
The Museum of Jewish Heritage will be hosting the world premiere of a new American opera based on the book, running January 27 to February 6 in Edmond J. Safra Hall. A coproduction of New York City Opera and National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, the show features a score by Ricky Ian Gordon (The Grapes of Wrath, the upcoming Intimate Apparel) and libretto by Michael Korie (The Grapes of Wrath, Harvey Milk), direction and choreography by Richard Stafford, and James Lowe conducting. “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis not only continues New York City Opera’s mission to produce new and important works by American composers, it will also continue NYCO’s tradition of showcasing outstanding talent,” NYCO general director Michael Capasso said in a statement. “I am very excited about our cast, which includes many young and emerging artists in leading roles alongside established NYCO stalwarts.” Rachel Blaustein and Brian James Myer star as Micól and Alberto Finzi-Contini, respectively, with Grammy winner Mary Phillips as Mama, Franco Pomponi as Papà, and Anthony Ciaramitaro as Giorgio; the sets are by John Farrell, with costumes by Ildiko Debreczeni and lighting by Susan Roth.
Ildiko Debreczeni designed the costumes for world premiere opera
“This important new work illuminates an important part of Italian Jewish history, and sadly, its themes of discrimination and anti-Semitism still resonate in our world today,” NYTF artistic director Zalmen Mlotek added. [Ed. note: The run has been pushed back a week because of the current omicron surge; the above dates have been adjusted.]