FULL Sāvitri (Holst) Easton MA 2021 Junhan Choi, Tahanee Aluwihare, Michael González
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Sāvitri
- Composer: Holst Gustav
- Libretto: based on the episode of Savitri and Satyavan from the Mahābhārata Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, N. Easton, Massachusetts
- Recorded: November 2021
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Junhan Choi, Tahanee Aluwihare, Michael González
- Conductor: Stephanie Beatrice
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director: David R. Gammons
- Costume Designer: Brittanie Beatrice
- Lighting Designer: RJ La Mura
Information about the Recording
- Published by: The Cambridge Chamber Ensemble
- Date Published: 2022
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Billed as “a tale of love, virtue, and a woman’s power,” the chamber opera “Savitri” (1916) depicts a legend from the Mahābhārata. Gustav Holst, best known for his suite “The Planets,” wrote and composed “Savitri,” which is presented here with cultural and historical context in an intimate staging by Cambridge Chamber Ensemble.
00:00 Introduction / Invocation to Ganesha (Dance)
08:48 Opening Remarks & Historical Context
12:40 Savitri – The Backstory (Dance)
24:09 Savitri – The Opera
The story: Savitri is a beautiful princess who marries Satyavan, a handsome woodsman, son of a king who has lost his throne. She learns that Satyavan is fated to die in a year. Death comes to claim Satyavan, but Savitri, with her kindness, wisdom, and persuasive powers, convinces Death to spare her husband. We introduce the opera with an invocation to the God Ganesha, danced by Kavya Prasad. After a welcome, Kavya interprets the story of Savitri with dance, words, and music. Then comes the opera of Savitri (Tahanee Aluwihare), Satyavan (Michael Gonzalez), and Death (Junhan Choi).