Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

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Lakmé

Music Excerpts:

Léo Delibes
Libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille

Cultures collide, generations are at war and lovers fall irresistibly, helplessly and hopelessly in love. You can almost smell the jasmine in this lush vision of Southern India, peopled by mystical princesses, peasants, and Brahmins, well-meaning officers of the British Army and even a few gods. Feel the heady love and crushing despair in this passionate opera, and relish some of opera’s greatest show-stoppers, including Lakmé’s transcendent “Bell Song” and the heartwarming “Flower Duet.”

“Lakmé is a lush, exotic, romantic thriller set in the depths of the Indian jungle—sensuous, touching and spectacular.”

Adam Cook
Stage Director

Cast

Lakmé
Leah Partridge, Feb 21, 24 & 27 in Miami; Mar 5 in Broward
Evelyn Pollock, Feb 22m, 25 & 28 in Miami; Mar 7 in Broward

Gérald
Bryan Griffin, Feb 21, 24 & 27 in Miami; Mar 5 in Broward
Chad A. Johnson, Feb 22m, 25 & 28 in Miami; Mar 7 in Broward

Nilakantha
Burak Bilgili, All performances

Frédéric
Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, All performances

Conductor
Stewart Robertson

Stage Director
Adam Cook

Set and Costume Designer
Mark Thompson

Lighting Designer
Gavan Swift

Choreographer
Jerry Opdenaker

Presented by arrangement with Opera Australia and Opéra de Montréal

Photograph of Leah Partridge as Lakmé by Deborah Gray Mitchell.

Leah Partridge is the Laurans and Arlene Mendelson Family Artist.

Sung in French with English and Spanish projected titles made possible by TOTALBANK.

Fort Lauderdale performances are funded in part by Funding Arts Broward.

Synopsis

Act I. A temple garden at dawn.

The Hindu priest Nilakantha is angry at the British, who have assumed command of his town. The prayers offered by his daughter, Lakmé, bring him comfort and give him hope.

Nilakantha goes to attend to some business in town leaving Lakmé under the protection of her servants, Hadji and Mallika. Lakmé and Mallika are ecstatically drawn to the beautiful flower-scented stream.

Two English sisters, Rose and Ellen, daughters of the British governer, with their governess, Miss Bentsen, and two officers, Gérald and Frédéric, find themselves having stumbled into the temple grounds. Miss Bentsen is wary; Gérald is tempted to trespass. Frédéric warns the others of the flowers, beautiful but poisonous, and tells them that Nilakantha has a daughter who is treated as a goddess but kept hidden out of sight. The Europeans ponder the difference between women of India and Europe. Rose and Ellen see Lakmé’s jewelry and want to investigate, but Frédéric and Miss Bentsen convince them to leave. Gérald stays behind to sketch the jewels, planning to have copies made for Ellen when they marry. He finds himself entranced by the idea of the woman who wears such things. He hides when Lakmé and Mallika return.

When Mallika leaves, Lakmé is overwhelmed by the beauties of nature, which confuse her as they gladden her soul. She is startled to find Gérald, telling him to leave and forget what he has seen. Gérald tells her he could never forget. The two are drawn to each other. Hearing Nilakantha’s approach, Lakmé hurries Gérald away. Nilakantha swears vengeance on whoever has violated the sanctity of the temple garden.

Act II. A Hindu market.

The English party are amusing themselves in the market. Nilakantha and Lakmé arrive in disguise. His plan is to trap the intruder, whom he suspects loves his daughter, by having her sing. It is Lakmé’s expression upon catching sight of Gérald that betrays him. Nilakantha’s agents stab the young man, but don’t kill him. Lakmé asks Hadji to take Gérald to a place where she can attend to his wounds.

Act III. A bamboo hut in the forest.

Lakmé watches over the sleeping Gérald. When he awakens, they pledge their eternal love. Lakmé goes off to collect a goblet of sacred water to unite them forever.

Frédéric, who has followed Gérald, now reminds him of his obligations to his fiancée and his regiment, which is about to leave the area. Gérald promises not to fail in his duty to the regiment.

Lakmé returns with the goblet and immediately senses a change in Gérald: He is now closed to her. She bites into a poisonous datura flower. As she weakens, she drinks from the goblet, uniting herself to Gérald. Desperate not to lose her, Gérald also drinks.

Nilakantha surprises the lovers, but Lakmé reminds him that Gérald, having drunk the sacred water, is protected from her father’s vengeance. As she dies, she asks that if the gods need a victim, they accept her.

By Lucie Spieler
©2008 Florida Grand Opera; all rights reserved.