This opera, which takes place in the 1920s, is somewhat bizarre in its treatment of religious cults. Its main character, Sister Rose Ora Easter, fakes death to get away from a repressive organization called the Lifeshine Ark in order to find a new life with a young man she has met. But her mentor and foster mother, Mother Rainey, won’t let go. Faith is questioned, accusations are hurled, and events steam ahead in soap opera fashion to a predictably gloomy end. The libretto, by Kenward Elmslie, is reasonably intelligent, but I must admit a resistance to Jack Beeson’s music. It is largely declamatory, not very melodic, and there is really nothing memorable about it. My impatience with this work simply called to mind that the composer’s best opera, Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, languishes in RCA’s vaults unreleased. It received a crackerjack performance, which is more than can be said for this one. By and large it is earnest and forthright, but seems stiff and unyielding, as if its soloists were just that far away from really knowing their roles. Judith Anthony, who sings Sister Rees, has a pleasant spinto voice, but Noel Rogers, who performs the big lead as Sister Rose, has a hard timbre that can turn harsh when pushed. The orchestra plays dutifully and the recording is only okay by 1974 standards. This is a recording for folks who simply must own every opera ever written. [5/9/2000]
