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The Empress and the Nightingale - Opera Camp
Susan Bingham
August 3rd, 4th - 2002
"Opera Pacific's professional training and performance camp for young people ages 8-18, culminates in performances of The Empress and the Nightingale at The Irvine Barclay Theatre." |
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Set in ancient China:
The Empress of China hears about a beautiful singing Nightingale who lives outside the palace walls. The Empress wishes to have the courtiers bring the Nightingale to her. When the Nightingale is brought to the Empress, her beautiful song touches the Empress' lonely soul. Shortly afterwards, a mechanical bird is sent to the Empress. The courtiers of the Empress are so taken with the mechanical bird’s impressively complex and brash songs that they completely ignore the Nightingale. The Nightingale decides to leave the palace and flies away. When the Empress discovers that her beloved Nightingale has departed, she is overwhelmingly grieved. Devastated and missing the real Nightingale dreadfully, the Empress takes to her bed and embarks on a life of seclusion and melancholy--ultimately neglecting her entire empire.
Years later, the Empress remains sorrowful at the loss of her beloved singing Nightingale. As she lies in bed perishing of a broken heart, the Empress is haunted by regrets of her oversight of the genuine love of the Nightingale and pleads to be forgiven. Upon hearing the cries of the Empress, the Nightingale returns and the Empress recovers from her sorrow and is joyful again. With her cherished Nightingale back in her life, the Empress learns to seek true beauty within and accept responsibility for her beliefs and her people.
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