Thirty-Fourth Program of the 2015-16 Season
_______________________
Summer Music 2015
Acis and Galatea
A Pastoral Opera in Two Acts, HWV 49
Music by George Frideric Handel
Libretto by John Gay
(after Ovid’s Metamorphoses)
Directed by Jacquelyn Mouritsen
Summer Chorus & Ensemble
Dominick DiOrio, Music Director & Conductor
Caleb Lewis, Assistant Conductor
Nicole Simental, Accompanist & Lighting Technician
Paul Hauer, Concertmaster
Asia Doike, Violin
Cole Tutino, Cello
Lindsay Bobyak, Double Bass
Robin Meiksins, Flute & Piccolo
Natasha Keating & Jeremy Curtis, Oboe
Elizabeth Clark, Harpsichord
The work will be performed in its entirety with one ten-minute intermission
and will last approximately one hour and forty-five minutes.
_________________
Auer Concert Hall
Thursday Evening
June Twenty-Fifth
Eight O’Clock
music.indiana.edu
Cast of Characters
Acis, a shepherd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Sokołowski
Galatea, a nymph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kellie Motter
Polyphemus, a cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Gussin
Eumelia, a shepherdess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christina Lynch
Coridon, a shepherd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Reynolds
Symaethis, Acis’ mother, a river nymph.. . . . . Daisy Schön
Damon, a shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven Berlanga
Coridon’s girlfriend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz McConnaughey
Birds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Jameson, Joey Nizich
Mark Phillips, Patricia Wallinga
Minions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darian Clonts, Tislam Swift
Synopsis
A time out of mythology, where gods commiserated
with mortals and magical beings held sway
Act I
The opera opens with nymphs and shepherds enjoying the pleasure of the
plains. The semi-divine nymph, Galatea, tries to hush the birds that remind her
of her passion for the roaming shepherd, Acis. As Acis searches for Galatea, he
encounters Eumelia, a shepherdess, who begs Acis to return her affections for
him, while his friend Damon, another shepherd, laughs at his predicament. Acis
tears himself away from Eumelia to find Galatea. Galatea greets him coolly for
having been away, but he soon wins her over again and the act closes with the
budding young couple singing beautiful a love duet to each other. Unable to
contain their elation, the nymphs and shepherds pick up the tune and sentiment
of the lovers in a rousing chorus.
Sinfonia
1. Oh, the pleasure of the plains! (Chorus)
2. Ye verdant plains and woody mountains (Galatea)
3. Hush, ye pretty warbling quire! (Galatea)
4. Where shall I seek the charming fair? (Acis)
5. Stay, shepherd, stay / Shepherd, what art thou pursuing? (Damon)
6. Lo! Here my love / Love in her eyes sits playing (Acis)
7. Oh! Didst thou know the pains / As when the dove laments her love
(Galatea)
8. Happy we! (Acis & Galatea)
9. Happy we! (Chorus)
Act II
As the lovers celebrate their union, the chorus tries to warn the unsuspecting
couple about the arrival of a monstrous Cyclops, Polyphemus. He sings and plays
on his pipe a song of his jealous love for Galatea. He then ensnares Galatea and
threatens force but is lulled to sleep by the shepherd, Coridon and his girlfriend,
helping Galatea to escape. After learning of Polyphemus’ actions, Acis sets off to
confront Polyphemous, ignoring Damon’s better judgement. Fortunately Acis’
mother Symaethis is able to prevent Acis from doing anything rash. Galatea
enters the scene, and as Acis and Galatea promise eternal fidelity to each other,
Polyphemus strikes, killing Acis. Galatea begins to mourn the loss of her love,
but the chorus reminds her of her divine power. With her magic, she transforms
Acis into a river god, who must rove through the plains. The chorus celebrates
of his immortality as Acis and Galatea bid a bittersweet farewell.
10. Wretched lovers! (Chorus)
11. I rage, I melt, I burn (Polyphemus)
12. O ruddier than the cherry (Polyphemus)
13. Whither, fairest, art thou running (Polyphemus & Galatea)
14. Cease to beauty to be suing (Polyphemus)
15. Would you gain the tender creature (Coridon)
16. His hideous love provokes my rage / Love sounds th’alarm (Acis)
17. Consider, fond shepherd (Eumelia)
18. Cease, oh cease, thou gentle youth (Galatea)
19. The flocks shall leave the mountains (Acis, Galatea, & Polyphemus)
20. Help, Galatea! Help, ye parent gods (Acis)
21. Mourn, all ye muses! (Chorus)
22. Must I my Acis still be moan (Galatea & Chorus)
23. Heart, the seat of soft delight (Galatea)
24. Galatea, dry thy tears (Chorus)



Summer Chorus
Dominick DiOrio, Conductor
Caleb Lewis, Assistant Conductor
Nicole Simental, Accompanist
Soprano
Taylor DelVecchio
Emma Donahue
Christina Dragnea~
Gabrielle Gaudreault
Christina Lynch+
Liz McConnaughey #
Daisy Schön
Nicole Simental
Brooke Vance
Crystal Vanrell
Mezzo-Soprano & Alto
Sarah Aragon
Annie Chester
Lesley Friend
Katherine Grant
Courtney Jameson
Dasol Kim
Jenna Stewart
Melissa Vandenbrink
Patricia Wallinga
Tiffany Williams
Tenor
Marquese Carter*
Darian Clonts
Edward Graves
Jianan Huang
Alonza Lawrence
James Reynolds
Tislam Swift &
Bass
Steven Berlanga^
Erik Krohg
Caleb Lewis
James Maverick
Joey Nizich
Matthew Recio
Bruno Sandes
Michael Wade
Jonathan Wasserman
*Cover for Acis
+Cover for Galatea
^Cover for Polyphemus
#Cover for Eumelia
&
Cover for Coridon
~Cover for Symaethis