Lucinda Y Las Flores De La Nochebuena
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y las Flo a res nd ci Nocheb Evan Mack u la ue Joshua McGuire L de na WWW.ALBANYRECORDS.COM TROY1811 ALBANY RECORDS U.S. 915 BROADWAY, ALBANY, NY 12207 TEL: 518.436.8814 FAX: 518.436.0643 ALBANY RECORDS U.K. BOX 137, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA8 0XD TEL: 01539 824008 © 2020 ALBANY RECORDS MADE IN THE USA DDD WARNING: COPYRIGHT SUBSISTS IN ALL RECORDINGS ISSUED UNDER THIS LABEL. A CHRISTMAS OPERA FOR CHILDREN Mack_1811_book.indd 1-2 2/6/20 3:19 PM LUCINDA Y LAS FLORES DE LA NOCHEBUENA CAST While celebrating a successful presentation at the 2015 National Opera Lucinda | Alejandra Tejeda Association’s National Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina about producing Mamá | Leandra Ramm new operas, composer Evan Mack, librettist Joshua McGuire, and director Anthony Nobody | Billy Lawley Radford talked about what was missing from new American opera. All three being Everybody | Mark Hernandez the fathers of young children, they almost simultaneously said “Good children’s Ensemble | San Francisco Opera Scouts opera!” Radford discussed with his university (CSU Fresno), commissioning Mack Miraya Choudhury | Margot Hall | Allegra Kelly | Julia Noel | Curtis Resnick and McGuire to write a 45-minute piece that could be performed in opera houses Pianist | Paul Dab and tour in schools. The result was Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena — a Director | Caroline Altman multi-cultural Christmas opera for all ages. The writing team knew to go for a “Pixar vibe,” something that children would love and parents would love even more. The opera premiered to more than 3,000 children in Fresno, mostly in LUCINDA Y LAS FLORES DE LA NOCHEBUENA under-served areas, and to children who had never seen an opera before. Since LIBRETTO then, Lucinda has been produced all over the United States, with productions from Houston to South Carolina and the Rio Grande Valley to San Francisco. As of PROLOGUE That reminds me, yes – poinsettias! 2019, the opera has been seen by more than 20,000 children, with future pro- 1 I was going to tell you… ductions planned for years to come. [NOBODY runs onstage from the darkened house, turning to address the children.] [enter EVERYBODY, interrupting him] SYNOPSIS NOBODY Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena is a coming-of-age story based on the EVERYBODY Mexican folktale of the poinsettia. The opera unfolds as young Lucinda and her Hey, everyone! You’re not giving away the ending, are you?!?! mother make a blanket together. They plan to give it as a gift at a Christmas Eve Do you know what today is? celebration, but Lucinda’s mother grows very sick and they cannot finish it in time. With help from some mischievous deities, Lucinda ends up attending the celebra- That’s right… today is Christmas Eve! NOBODY tion alone — with nothing but wildflowers to share. A holiday miracle teaches her Now what are some things you always have around Why howdy, partner! that giving from the heart is more important than the gift itself. on Christmas Eve? [to the audience] I should introduce my friend here. This is Everybody. Everybody, meet Everybody. [...] and songs, and trees, and candy, and Everybody [gesturing to the audience]…everybody. poinsettias… He’s really an all right guy once you get to know him. Mack_1811_book.indd 3-4 2/6/20 3:19 PM EVERYBODY NOBODY LUCINDA LUCINDA [to the audience] Don’t listen to Nobody! [nervously, taking backwater] Oh, uh… no I didn’t. Something about Christmas Eve… Okay, Mamá! No poinsettias here! I feel the world is glowing. I was just telling them that here, it’s Christmas Eve. NOBODY I feel like no one knows what’s coming next, and [exit LUCINDA] everyone is waiting. [correcting his grammar] You mean, don’t listen to EVERYBODY anybody… MAMÁ And I imagine all the world Christmas Eve... I’ll be here. I’ll be here... Anything can happen. Waiting for a Christmas gift, EVERYBODY I imagine all the things there are to give. We’ve all got a part to play... [to herself] Thread over thread, and color over No, I’m talking about you! color… [to the audience] He didn’t tell you? On Christmas Eve, NOBODY We stitch this blanket just to give away. Grrrr, that’s so like him! We wish and hope and ask for what we want. My bones are stinging me like needles. His name is Nobody! Goodbye, Everybody! But I know for sure, on Christmas Eve, This Christmas Eve could be my last. That giving things away is way more fun! [exit EVERYBODY] I haven’t said a word. NOBODY And I imagine giving all the world Well, that’s a fact… But I’ll teach her how to make the offering, Anyway, it’s Christmas Eve, and Lucinda – she’s A brand new Christmas gift. Hoping she’ll remember all that she was shown. about your age, actually – I imagine all the things there are to give. EVERYBODY Lucinda and her Mamá are about to make a very... I think of all the years a daughter weaves alone. …and he’s always so insufferably happy! special… gift. Sometimes I don’t get what I want, Somewhere in my heart’s imagination, As to what it is…well, you’ll see. And I feel sad, and I feel small. And don’t mind me. I see her stitching a blanket for her child: NOBODY But then I imagine I’m Nobody. A brighter kind of gift that the world has never seen. [gleefully raising his right hand] Guilty! What were Lucinda will blossom long after I’m gone. 2 The whole world is a gift I get to give! you saying about the ending? [exit NOBODY] When I’m gone, I want her to know that she was [enter MAMÁ, looking over the sewing table] EVERYBODY my gift. SCENE 1 MAMÁ You told them about the poinsettias! When I’m gone, I want her to see what she meant [Lucinda’s home, late morning. A simple table cov- Lucinda, go get the yarn. to me. ered in white linen, with knitting supplies.] She is all I have to give. Mack_1811_book.indd 5-6 2/6/20 3:19 PM Somewhere in my heart’s imagination, MAMÁ LUCINDA & MAMÁ LUCINDA I see her stitching a blanket for her child: What did I just say? Yarn… I can stitch the best! A brighter kind of gift that the world has never seen. Let me see… [taking LUCINDA’s hand] Needle… Loop it, cross it… Lucinda will blossom long after I’m gone. Not bad. Loop it over. Everyone at church will see No blood. Cross it. That it’s the best and it’s by me. [enter LUCINDA] Now you pull it tight. It’s so beautiful: warm and bright and we get to give [LUCINDA & MAMÁ prepare to knit.] There, I got it right! it away! 3 LUCINDA Red goes over white. All the church will see my perfect gift. [rummaging around immediately at the table] Mamá, LUCINDA I found the yarn! Needle... MAMÁ Mamá, we’re almost out of red yarn! Now move the needle below, and go! MAMÁ MAMÁ [bending to help LUCINDA] You don’t know how MAMÁ [collecting herself] Mija, you are right! much I love this. Be careful! Gently! We will have to get more. LUCINDA LUCINDA LUCINDA LUCINDA Come on, let’s do it! Let’s go! Mamá, I can do it on my own! Yarn… Let’s go to the market! It’s perfect! MAMÁ MAMÁ MAMÁ MAMÁ Mi potrilla... Bright red! Today, you must go to the market for me. You cannot hurry the offering. [to herself] She’s never done this without me. She thinks she can make it on her own. LUCINDA LUCINDA She can’t make it on her own. LUCINDA We always go together… The kind we use every year! I don’t want to leave her alone. We don’t have all day! My daughter! [pricking her finger] Ow! MAMÁ MAMÁ Warm and bright and made to give away. My Lucinda will weave alone. [handing LUCINDA some coins] Ten pesos… Now take your needle… Look for the brightest red. Mack_1811_book.indd 7-8 2/6/20 3:19 PM LUCINDA [LUCINDA unfreezes, and so on against EVERYBODY LUCINDA NOBODY I’m afraid to go alone! and NOBODY’s conversation.] [to the children in the audience] Will you help me Something about Christmas Eve… find the yarn? Anything can happen. MAMÁ LUCINDA I may not be near you, but you’ll never be alone. I can’t find the yarn. NOBODY LUCINDA Wait! She asked them for help. Kids, are you sure you can help me? [exit LUCINDA, reluctantly] EVERYBODY This changes everything! As soon as you see yarn anywhere in the market, En algún lugar profundo de mi corazón, Eh, it’s a pointless trip. I want you to yell, “yarn!” okay? La veo cosiendo una manta para su hijo. She’ll never finish sewing her gift by tonight. EVERYBODY Let’s practice it: “Yarn…” [they answer] Un tipo de regalo que el mundo nunca ha visto… How so? “Yarn…” [they answer] Lucinda florecerá después de que me vaya. LUCINDA Where is it? NOBODY You have to sing louder so I can hear you. Try again: SCENE 2 4 [awestruck] That could mean a miracle… “Yarn…” [they answer] [The marketplace. LUCINDA enters, rummaging NOBODY “Yarn…” [they answer] through the vendor’s tables.] I say she will. EVERYBODY And when you see yarn, you’re gonna sing what? Nonsense! No no no no no! LUCINDA [they answer] EVERYBODY [pointing to the children] They can’t help her! Where is the yarn? Maybe it’s over here… So…Nobody thinks Lucinda will finish in time.