Show artwork for The Anonymous Lover

The Anonymous Lover The Anonymous Lover

Composed by Joseph Bologne

Conducted by James Conlon

Available to watch for a limited time

Company premiere

Our acclaimed digital production is available to watch for a limited time.

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LA Opera proudly presents The Anonymous Lover (L'Amant Anonyme), an unjustly neglected 1780 chamber opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a pioneering Black composer who was a contemporary of Mozart and subject of the recent acclaimed film Chevalier.

The comic romance tells the story of Léontine, a beautiful young widow who has become disillusioned with love. Much to her surprise, she receives a steady stream of letters and gifts from an unknown man professing his undying passion. This amuses her friend Valcour, who also claims to have no interest in romanceBut now, after hiding his true feelings for years, Valcour works up the courage to reveal that he himself is the devoted secret admirer. Will his (inevitably awkward) confession sway a woman sworn to resist all affairs of the heart? 

Directed by Bruce A. Lemon, Jr., in a socially distanced stage setting that blends both modern film and traditional opera staging, the performance will be streamed online, to reach a wide audience, with the cast and musicians performing at the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall. Bologne's brilliant score is conducted by Music Director James Conlon, leading the LA Opera Orchestra in a separately recorded session.

Click here to read James Conlon's program note on The Anonymous Lover.

Click here to read a note from director Bruce A. Lemon, Jr.

Want to dig deeper into the world of Joseph Bologne? Click here for your one-stop shop to all things The Anonymous Lover.

"Sparkling originality...astonishing musical and dramatic complexity...razor-sharp comic precision"

Callum John BlackmoreParterre Box

Cast

Léontine
Tiffany Townsend
Valcour
Robert Stahley
Ophémon
Michael J. Hawk
Dorothée
Alaysha Fox
Jeannette
Gabriela Flores
Colin
Jacob Ingbar

Creative Team

Conductor
James Conlon
Director
Bruce A. Lemon, Jr.
Dramaturg
Ariane Helou
Projection and Set Design
Hana S. Kim
Costume Design
Misty Ayres
Lighting Design
Pablo Santiago
Choreographer
Andrea Beasom

Creators

Composer
Joseph Bologne
Librettist
Madame de Genlis

Read the synopsis

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Synopsis

Act One 
Valcour has been hopelessly in love with Léontine, a beautiful young widow, for years (aria: Depuis longtemps  “For a long time”). With the help of his trusted accomplice Ophémon, Valcour has been showering Léontine with a stream of gifts, flowers and love letters. Hhas done so anonymously; Léontine had been betrayed by her late husband, and Valcour is certain that she has no interest now in pursuing romance with anyone. To help cover up his secret, Valcour has told Léontine that his heart is closed to love too. Valcour tells Ophémon that he has lost all hope of winning her affectionswhile Ophémon responds that it is time for Valcour to reveal his secret (duet: “Tant de constance, tant d’amour” — “Such constancy, such love”). 

Léontine asks Valcour to settle a dispute she is having with her friend Dorothée. The Anonymous Lover has sent Léontine a bouquet of flowers along with a letter asking her to carry it at a wedding later that day; if she doesn’t, he will take it as a sign that he should stop sending gifts and leave her alone. Dorothée thinks that it would do no harm for Léontine to accept the flowers. Léontine doesn't want to hurt her secret admirer’s feelings (ariette: “Son amour, sa constance extreme” — “His love, his extreme constancy”), but doesn’t want to lead him on either. Valcour convinces Léontine to carry the bouquet. 

Jeannette and Colin, the young couple about to be married, arrive and express their thanks to Léontine (chorus: “Cantons, célébrons notre dame” — “Let us sing, let us celebrate our lady”) for making their wedding possible. They hope that everyone might be as filled with love and joy (chanson: “Jouissez de l’allégresse” — “Enjoy the happiness”) as they are. 

When Léontine and Dorothée are alone, Léontine recalls her heartache when her late husband's love grew cold during their brief time together, and how Valcour’s friendship helped her get through it. 

Dorothée, who has been separated from the man she loves, reflects on the unhappiness that love has brought her (scena interpolated from Bologne‘s opera Ernestine: “Dorothée [originally "Ernestine"], que vas-tu faire?” — “Dorothée, what will you do?”)while dreaming for a happy reunion in the future. 

Valcour tells Léontine that the Anonymous Lover might very well be watching them nearby at that very moment. He convinces her to call out to her mysterious suitor and ask him to reveal himself. When she does so, Valcour overdramatically—and clumsily—answers that he himself is the tormented Anonymous Lover...a declaration that makes Dorothée laugh at Valcour’s “joke” but leaves Léontine strangely confused. Valcour and Ophémon quickly try to convince Léontine that it was all in jest, while Jeannette and Colin are sympathetic to Léontine’s obvious emotional distress (quintet: “Que de maux mon coeur ressnet” — “My heart feels such pain”). 

Act Two 
Alone, Léontine laments that Valcour is unlikely to understand her feelings (recitative: “Enfin une foule importune” —  At last this unwelcome crowd”) but she wishes that she could unburden her heart to him, since he has been such a trusted friend. Ophémon arrives with news that he has spoken to the Anonymous Lover, and Léontine presses him for details (duet: “Ahfinissez de grâce” — “Ah, go on please”) while Ophémon resists, prolonging the conversation while gleefully watching her attempt to conceal her eagerness. Finally, Ophémon describes how the Anonymous Lover worries that it would be impossible for Léontine to love him (aria: “Aimer sans pouvoir le dire” — “To love without being able to admit it”), but that he wishes to reveal his identity anyway. Léontine agrees to the meeting, but her obvious reluctance convinces Ophémon that she is in love with someone else: Valcour.  

As she awaits the arrival of her secret admirer, Léontine reflects that her heart is now full of passion (ariette: “Du tendre amour” — “Such is the power of tender love”), something she never expected. When Valcour shows up, explaining that he’s just there to be her supportive friend, Léontine desperately tries to get him to leave before the Anonymous Lover’s arrival (duet: “Non, je ne puis rien entendre” — “No, I can’t listen anymore”). As Ophémon listens outside the door, Léontine and Valcour finally confess their love for each other as Valcour reveals that he himself is the Anonymous Lover (trio: “Ah, quel trouble” — “Ah, such confusion”) 

Léontine tells an astonished Dorothée everything, and they all join Jeannette and Colin for what is now a double wedding (chorus: “Deux noces à la fois” —  Two weddings at once”). The two couples celebrate their happiness with songs and dances (quartet: “Aimons-nous sans cesse” — “Let us love one another”). 

Sung in French (subtitled in English), with dialogues spoken in English translation.

Estimated running time: one hour and 45 minutes, including one 10-minute intermission.

Production made possible with generous support from the Colburn Foundation.

Special production support from Lawrence A. Kern.

The singers in the cast are all members of the company's young artist program. 

LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program is generously underwritten by the Colburn Foundation, Eugene and Marilyn Stein, and Richard and Lenore Wayne.

The Anonymous Lover is produced and streamed in partnership with the Colburn School, which will concurrently and collaboratively engage in a performance-based exploration of the works and legacy of Joseph Bologne. 

By arrangement with Opera Ritrovata, publisher and copyright owner; engraving and editing by George N. Gianopoulos, Stephen Karr, Leila Núñez-Fredell, and Mishkar Núñez-Fredell.

For additional cast and production credits, click here.

Artwork for The Anonymous Lover
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