Four Saints in Three Acts is an opera by American composer Virgil Thomson with a libretto by Gertrude Stein. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Virgil Thomson, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1947 Virgil Thomson (November 25, 1896 - September 30, 1989) was an American composer from Missouri, whose rural background gave a sense of place in his compositions. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... Gertrude Stein, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1935 Gertrude Stein (February 3, 1874, in Pittsburgh - July 27, 1946) was an American writer, poet, feminist, playwright and catalyst in the development of modern art and literature, who spent most of her life in France. ...

Overview

First staged on February 20, 1934, the opera was notable in that it defied many traditional aspects of opera. Stein's libretto focused more on an affinity for the sounds of words than on presenting a narrative. The plot of the opera focuses on two sixteenth century Spanish saints—Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila—as well as their followers, St. Settlement and St. Chavez. The cast also includes St. Teresa's alter ego, "St. Teresa II", and the master and mistress of ceremonies called the Compere and Commere. February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ignatius of Loyola Saint Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Ignacio (Íñigo) López de Loyola (December 24, 1491 – July 31, 1556), was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious order of the Catholic Church professing direct service to the Pope in terms... Teresa of Avila by Peter Paul Rubens Saint Teresa of Avila (known in religion as Teresa de Jesús, baptised as Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada) was a Spanish Roman Catholic mystic and monastic reformer; born at Avila (53 miles north-west of Madrid), Old Castile, March 28, 1515; died...

The first act takes place at the Avila cathedral, the second act is a picnic and the final act is set at the garden of a monastery. Thomson's simple, melodious and imaginative music was considered unconventional for an Opera. Protestant hymns, quotations of known melodies and dance rhythms are teamed with glass-beaded cellophane sets. Costumes also included colorful lace, silks and taffetas. Also considered unusual was the all-black cast portrayed the European saints as there was little or no precedent for this in stage history. vila is a town in the south of Castile, the capital of the province of the same name, now part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon, Spain. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... See also hymn - a program to decrypt iTunes music files. ...

Productions

The wild elements led to a successful and well-received first production. While critics were divided, audiences accepted the created fantasy world created by the singers who gave meaning to the words and melodies given to their saintly characters.

The cast of the original production included:

• Edward Matthews as "St Ignatius"
• Beatrice Robinson-Wayne as "St Teresa"
• Abner Dorsey as "the Compere"
• Altonnell Hines as "the Commere"
• Ruby Greene
• Inez Matthews (Edward Matthew's sister)
• Charles Holland
• The Eva Jessye Choir, lead by Eva Jessye

The opera would be performed later as a concert oratorio such as the 1942 and 1947 radio broadcasts. Stage performances were produced in 1952 and 1973. In 1981, a New York concert version was performed for Thomson's eight-fifth birthday celebration. For this performance, Betty Allen, Gwendolyn Bradley, William Brown, Clamma Dale, Benjamin Matthews, Florence Quivar and Arthur Thompson sang the principal parts. Edward Matthews was a pioneering African American opera singer. ... Charles Holland (1733 - 1769), English actor, was born in Chiswick, the son of a baker. ... Eva Jessye (1895–1992)—the first black woman to receive international distinction as a professional choral conductor—is a notable as a female choral conductor during the Harlem Renaissance. ... An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, vocal soloists and chorus. ... This article is about the year. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... William Brown or Bill Brown may be: William Brown (or Guillermo Brown) (1777-1857)  Argentine Navy admiral. ... Arthur Thompson was a notorious Glasgow-born gangster who made his mark on the streets of Scotland in the 1950s, and who then went on to take charge of organized crime for over thirty years. ...

References

The Music of Black Americans: A History. Eileen Southern. W. W. Norton & Company; 3rd edition. ISBN 0393971414 Eileen Jackson Southern (born 1920 in Minneapolis - died October 13, 2002 in Port Charlotte, Florida) was an African American musicologist, reasearcher, author and teacher. ...