FULL THE MENSCH (Lauren Bernofsky) Act 1 Bloomington IN 2023 Angelo Pollak, Shannon Lally, Thomas Drew
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: THE MENSCH Act 1
- Composer: Bernofsky Lauren
- Libretto: Lauren Bernofsky
- Venue & Opera Company: Auer Hall, Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music
- Recorded: September 6, 2023
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Angelo Pollak, Shannon Lally, Thomas Drew, Steven Warnock, Ron Kalinovsky, Erin Koolman, Alma Sela, Ray Fellman, Sylvia McNair, Josef Kalinovsky, Aidan Koontz, Caroline Goodwin, Laurie Staring, Joshua Horsch
- Conductor: Joshua Horsch
- Orchestra: Julian Garvue, PIANO
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Lauren Bernofsky
- Date Published: 2023
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs
- Video Recording from: IUMusic FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
SYNOPSIS, Act I
Scene 1 – Anton Schmid’s electrical shop
1938, after the Anschluss. Anton Schmid owns an electrical shop in a working-class district of Vienna. One of his employees, Bernhard, enters, reporting back from a service call to a local residence. He speaks with Anton and Anton’s wife, Stefanie, about what supplies are needed. Anton starts a conversation about which “Heuriger” (a tavern where the new local wine of the season is served) they should visit that weekend. Various customers visit to do business in the shop. Stefanie sends Gerhard, the son of Anton’s employee Eduard, to the butcher to buy a sausage for her dog. Anton sings of how his favorite part of his business is the customers. Gerhard returns with a sausage that is surprisingly small.
Suddenly, they hear the sound of shattering glass. Anton runs outside and finds that a young boy has thrown a rock through the storefront window of a Jewish-owned shop. He confronts the boy, slapping him. A policeman arrives and defends the boy. An argument between Anton and the policeman ensues. Anton grabs the policeman’s sword and bends it. The policeman arrests Anton and takes him away.
Scene 2 – In the Schmids’ apartment
Stefanie and her daughter, Gertha, anxiously set the table for dinner, wondering if Anton will safely return. He finally arrives. After a brief exchange, Stefanie erupts into a fit of worry and rage. Anton tries to explain himself, and the two end up uniting in a love duet.
Scene 3 – In Anton Schmid’s electrical shop
Anton is busy at work. His employees Hans and Bernhard enter, whispering to each other. They are relieved to see Anton back and ask how he’s doing. He briefly describes his experience and says he’s fine. Bernhard asks him to complete a minyan and join them for a Sabbath service at a friend’s house that weekend. Anton hesitantly agrees. Hans, Eduard, and Bernhard sing about Sabbath prayer. Eduard’s wife, Liesl, bursts into the shop, breathlessly telling him how the Nazis kicked her and the children out of their apartment. As reality sets in, Eduard and Liesl sing about their losses. Eduard reminisces about his life’s dreams and how his hopes for the future have now been dashed. Anton offers to take the family into his apartment.
Scene 4 – In the Schmids’ apartment
Anton, Liesl, and Eduard sit around the dining room table after dinner. Gertha plays “Scissors, Paper, Rock” with Eduard and Liesl’s children, Gerhard and Annelie. Stefanie enters, flipping through the day’s mail. She finds a postcard addressed to Anton and proceeds to read it out loud – Anton is being summoned to report immediately for military duty in the Wehrmacht.
Act II
Scene I – The Jewish ghetto in Vilna, Lithuania
The Jews sing of their plight – their lives in the ghetto are a living hell, marked by constant hunger and fear. Their men are being kidnapped and taken away, and the families have no idea where they are. They cry out for their sons, fathers, and grandfathers to be returned.