LUCREZIA
music by WILLIAM BOLCOM | libretto by MARK CAMPBELL
FLORIDA STATE OPERA (2016) | STAGE DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION DESIGNER
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Douglas Fisher
COSTUMES: Gerry Leahy
LIGHTING: J. Russell Sandifer
HAIR & MAKEUP: Caroline Bankey
Lucrezia is a riff on Machiavelli’s five-act comedy La Mandragola. Machiavelli's version is extremely sexist and pejorative towards women, but this contemporary take turns it on its head. Stripped down to a one-act, Lucrezia is the centralized character who is in on the ridiculous plot affecting her from the beginning. Throughout the work scored for two pianos there are hints of the tango, fandango, and other dance and folk tunes from Argentina to create a zarzuela-inspired farce with a happy conclusion. Well at least happy for Lucrezia.