FULL GUILT (Paul Evernden) London 2013 Sibylla Meinenberg, Jeanna L’Esty

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: GUILT   
• Composer: Evernden Paul   
• Libretto: Hildegard of Bingen    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: London, UK  
• Recorded: August 11, 2013
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Sibylla Meinenberg, Jeanna L’Esty
• Conductor:   
• Orchestra: Instrumental Ensemble  
• Stage Director:   
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Format: DVD
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: nosubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  Inspired by the life of Hildegard of Bingen and using a text fashioned from three different pieces of her writing interspersed with the canonical hours, Guilt is a provocative piece of music theatre which examines female sexuality, jealousy and the burden which spiritual ‘truth’ brings with it.

  Synopsis

  Using a combination of Hildegard of Bingen’s own texts – her vision, The Cosmic Egg, an antiphon from Symphonia, and the only remaining fragment from her Unknown Language – interspersed with three of the Canonical Hours – Vespers, Compline and Matins – I have created a fictitious narrative based on the relationship between Hildegard and her ward, Jutta of Spanheim.

  Given as an oblate to Jutta at the age of 8, Hildegard started having her visionsat a very early age, yet only “went public” with them after Jutta’s death, in 1136. The years between 1113 and 1136 – from entering Disibodenberg abbey with Jutta, to the latter’s death – are somewhat of a mystery.

  GUILT is my own interpretation of the little known relationship between these two complex women.

  Scene 1: Sunday evening -­‐ Vespers

  We see Hildegard chastised by Jutta, havingconfided her latest vision to her.

  Scene 2a: Sunday evening -­‐ Compline

  Hildegard and Jutta pray together at Hildegard’s bedside.

  Scene 2b: Sunday evening -­‐ Compline

  Jutta self-­‐flagellates, angry at her herself for her earlier reaction.

  Scene 3: Monday morning -­‐ Matins

  Hildegard awakes, startled by a vision slowly fermenting itself, and proceeds to give “voice” to it.

   

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