Vanessa



Sam the man: Curtis alumnus Barber.

Curtis alumnus and West Chester, PA, native Samuel Barber (1910-1981) is one of America’s most honored composers. His opera Vanessa scored a critical success at the Metropolitan Opera and around the world. But, amazingly, Vanessa has never been performed at Barber’s alma mater. In fact, the Met’s touring performance in 1953 is Vanessa’s only Philadelphia appearance.

Curtis’ Mikael Eliasen was just as surprised as City Paper to learn of this omission, and he’s rectifying the situation. His Curtis Opera Theatre will present concert performances of Vanessa this weekend at the Prince Music Theater. Ian Robertson will conduct the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.

Vanessa’s long absence from Curtis is even more surprising because its libretto is by another Curtis alum, Gian Carlo Menotti, who was Barber’s longtime companion. The men met in Philadelphia. Menotti, 89, now is in Scotland, reportedly in poor health.

Eliasen chose to present Vanessa in concert form "because most of its action takes place off stage, and the orchestral parts are so gorgeous." It is a psychological drama of obsession, about a woman who has been mourning for 20 years since being abandoned by her lover, Anatol. Her country manor is thrown into disorder by the unexpected arrival of Anatol’s son, an opportunist with all the charms and looks of his father, who seduces both Vanessa and her young niece, Erika. Anatol the younger goes off with Vanessa, jilts Erika and leaves her pregnant with his child. Erika then goes into mourning, picking up where her aunt left off.

—Steve Cohen

Thu.-Sat., April 26-28, 8 p.m.; Sun. April 29, 2:30 p.m., $25, Curtis Opera Theatre at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700.