Metropolitian Opera Live In HD airs drama ‘Fedora’

Whitefish Theatre Company and the Whitefish Performing Arts Center are co-presenting the fourth live on-screen performance of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD for the 2022 to 2023 season.

Umberto Giordano’s hyper-romantic production of “Fedora” will be shown on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10:55 a.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 127 Spokane Ave, Whitefish.

The approximate run time is 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one intermission. Tickets are sold only at the door which will open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, paid by cash or check only. Call 406-862-5371 to inquire about 10 student scholarships.

Sung in Italian with subtitles, “Fedora” returns to the Met for the first time in 25 years, packed with memorable melodies, showstopping arias, and explosive confrontations. In Act 1, Fedora Romanzov, a Russian princess who is to marry Count Vladimir Andreyevich the following day, arrives and sings of her love for him, unaware that the dissolute Count has betrayed her with another woman. Police suddenly appear, carrying the mortally wounded Count and the servants are questioned. It is proposed that Count Loris Ipanov, a suspected Nihilist sympathizer, was the probable assassin. Diplomat De Siriex and Police Inspector Grech plan an investigation. Fedora swears on the jeweled Byzantine cross she is wearing that Count Vladimir's death will be avenged.

In Act 2, at a reception at Fedora's mansion in Paris, Fedora introduces De Siriex to Loris. She privately tells De Siriex that she is looking for proof of Loris’ guilt but that she is also falling in love with him. Dr. Borov, meanwhile, warns Loris of Fedora’s charms but Loris admits that he has already fallen in love with her. When Fedora tells Loris she is returning to Russia the following day, Loris is in despair, as he has been exiled from Russia and cannot follow her. He ultimately confesses to Fedora that it was he who killed Count Vladimir, however, Loris does not have time to tell her the whole story. In the meantime, Fedora writes a letter to the Russian Imperial Chief of Police accusing Loris of Vladimir's murder. Loris returns later and explains that he caught Vladimir having an affair with his wife. Vladimir shot at Ipanov and Loris returned fire, mortally wounding Vladimir. Fedora realizes Loris was defending his honor and that Vladimir was a cad. She convinces Loris to remain with her that night.

In Act 3, Loris and Fedora are happily in love and living in the Swiss Alps. De Siriex arrives and tells Fedora that Valeriano, Loris’ brother, has been arrested as a result of her letter. He dies in prison and, after hearing of his death, his mother dies of heartbreak. Fedora is anguished - she has been the cause of two deaths. Loris receives a letter from Russia with news of the deaths of his brother and mother and that the cause was a woman living in Paris who had apparently reported him. Fedora confesses her guilt to Loris and begs his forgiveness. When he initially curses her, Fedora swallows poison which she had hidden in the Byzantine cross she always wore around her neck. Loris begs the doctor to save her, but it is too late. Fedora dies in Loris' arms.

Soprano Sonya Yoncheva, one of today's most riveting artists, sings the role of Fedora. Piotr Beczala, one of the most sought-after tenors of our time, sings the role of Loris Ipanoff. Soprano Rosa Feola is the Countess Olga, Fedora's confidante, and baritone Lucas Meachem is the diplomat De Siriex. Much loved Met maestro Marco Armiliato conducts the performance, while David McVicar, director of many Live in HD performances, directs the production. The ingenious set, like a Russian nesting doll, unfolds to reveal the opera's three distinctive settings - a palace in St. Petersburg, a fashionable Parisian salon, and a villa in the Swiss Alps.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase during the performance. This opera is the fourth of 10 Metropolitan Opera Live in HD performances offered from November 2022 to June 2023. Four operas are being shown at the O’Shaughnessy Center and six operas are being shown at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Go to www.whitefishtheatreco.org to read about the entire Met Opera Live in HD season or call 406-862-5371 for more information.