Albany Records TR 1306

Raphaël Lucas: Confession – Catherine Webber, Molly Davey, Diana Wangerin, Robert Balonek, Joshua Benevento, Purchase Opera, Purchase Symphony Orchestra, Hugh Murphy (conductor)

This evocative one-act work came about as Jacque Trussel, the stage director for Purchase Opera, began to muse on the possible circumstances behind Suor Angelica’s becoming a nun. He realised that there was a story waiting to be told, a ‘prequel to Puccini’s famous one-act opera, and came up with the essence of the libretto that with the help of Margaret Vignola would become Confession. The music was written by the young French composer Raphaël Lucas and the work was awarded the National Opera Association Prize as best contemporary opera of 2010 – 12. It will be staged at the Association’s 2012 convention. This is a world premiere recording.

World premiere recording of an award-winning opera by Raphaël Lucas.

Confession, Raphaël Lucas’ award-winning opera, libretto by Jacque Trussel and Margaret Vignola, was created as a “prequel” to Puccini’s beloved Suor Angelica. The evocative one-act work came about as Jacque Trussel, stage director for Purchase Opera, began to muse on the possible circumstances behind Suor Angelica’s becoming a nun. He realized there was a story waiting to be told and came up with the essence of the libretto that was to become Confession. The music was written by the young French composer Raphaël Lucas and was awarded the National Opera Association Prize as best contemporary opera of 2010-12 and will be staged at their 2012 convention. This is a world premiere recording.