Four Saints in Three Acts

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Four Saints in Three Acts is an opera by American composer Virgil Thomson with a libretto by Gertrude Stein.

[edit] Overview

First staged on Broadway on February 20, 1934, the opera was notable in that it defied many traditional aspects of opera. Stein's libretto focused more on an affinity for the sounds of words than on presenting a narrative. Thomson's music was unconventional in its very simplicity.

The opera focuses on two sixteenth century Spanish saints—Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila—as well as their followers, St. Settlement and St. Chavez. The cast also includes St. Teresa's alter ego, "St. Teresa II", and the master and mistress of ceremonies called the Compere and Commere.

The first act takes place at the Ávila cathedral, the second act is a picnic and the final act is set at the garden of a monastery. The music includes or evokes Protestant hymns, quotations of known melodies and dance rhythms. The fanciful sets of the first production , designed by artist Florine Stettheimer, included such things as cellophane backdrops, and the costumes (also Stettheimer's) were of colorful lace, silk and taffeta. Also considered unusual was the portrayal of the European saints by an all-black cast as there was little or no precedent for this in stage history.

These unconventional elements led to a successful and well-received first production. While critics were divided, audiences accepted the fantasy world created by the singers who vividly conveyed the words and melodies given to their saintly characters.

The cast of the original production included:

Edward Matthews as "St Ignatius"
Beatrice Robinson-Wayne as "St Teresa"
Abner Dorsey as "the Compere"
Altonnell Hines as "the Commere"
Ruby Greene
Inez Matthews (Edward Matthew's sister)
Charles Holland
The Eva Jessye Choir, lead by Eva Jessye

[edit] Productions

The opera would be performed later as a concert oratorio such as the 1942 and 1947 radio broadcasts. Stage performances were produced in 1952 and 1973. In 1981, a New York concert version was performed for Thomson's eighty-fifth birthday celebration. For this performance, Betty Allen, Gwendolyn Bradley, William Brown, Clamma Dale, Benjamin Matthews, Florence Quivar and Arthur Thompson sang the principal parts.

There have also been stagings by Robert Wilson and Mark Morris (a choreographic staging).