Academy of Sacred Drama: San Nicola di Bari
$60 premium, $40 general, $20 student w/ID
- Christina Kay, soprano (St. Nicholas)
- Madeline Apple Healey, soprano (Giovanna)
- Andrew Leslie Cooper, countertenor (Clizio)
- Steven Hrycelak, bass-baritone (Epifanio)
The Academy of Sacred Drama presents a holiday performance of historic significance: the New York premiere of Giovanni Bononcini's oratorio San Nicola di Bari (1693). This tale of St. Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus) reveals the untold story of his early life—before he became known for giving gifts in secret.
The composer Giovanni Bononcini (1670–1747), a contemporary of G.F. Handel, had an international career and was one of most celebrated composers of his day. His ongoing collaboration with the librettist Silvio Stampiglia (1664–1725) resulted in multiple operas and the oratorio San Nicola di Bari. As one of the founding members of the Accademia dell'Arcadia, Stampiglia worked to reform Italian poetry of its worst Baroque excesses. This oratorio represents the Accademia's new standards of taste.
About Academy of Sacred Drama
The Academy of Sacred Drama seeks to revive one of humanity's great art forms present in rituals, in liturgy, and on stage: the sacred drama. We do research and make editions and translations in order to present moving performances of theatrical musical works for our community. The Academy's work is made possible by our members, volunteers, musicians, and other performing arts professionals.
In past seasons, we presented oratorios to critical acclaim that have not been heard in around 300 years. The Academy was featured in an article in Commonweal Magazine, and our artistic decisions were declared "striking" by the New York Times. Our work was also featured in Early Music America online.
We perform without sets or costumes, and our performances tell a story through emotive gestures and subtle movement-based staging. The style of singing and instrumental music is unique and poignant. After seeing one of the Academy's performances, an audience member remarked, "Opera has never appealed to me, but I think that oratorio is my thing!"
Our area of focus is on the sacred dramas of the Baroque era—which draw upon the legendary stores of the Judeo-Christian tradition and combines them with poetic verse and classical references. Much of the genre has yet to be explored in our time.
https://sacreddrama.org/About Christina Kay, soprano (St. Nicholas)
About Madeline Apple Healey, soprano (Giovanna)
About Andrew Leslie Cooper, countertenor (Clizio)
About Steven Hrycelak, bass-baritone (Epifanio)
https://www.blueheron.org/about-us/musicians/steven-hrycelak/
St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church
869 Lexington Avenue at 65th StreetNew York, NY
United States