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A Streetcar Named Desire
André Previn
The kindness of strangers is relative.
Conductor: ARI PELTO
Stage Director: SAM HELFRICH
Performed in English with English Supertitles
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Study Guides
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Historical Background
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Virginia Opera features a free pre-opera presentation available before the opera by Dr. Glenn Winters, Virginia Opera's Community Musical Outreach Director.
Dr. Winters' presentation begins 45 minutes before curtain.
Running time: TBA
In this famous tale of lust and disgrace, the newly impoverished Blanche Dubois arrives in 1940’s New Orleans to live with her sister and brother-in-law in their shabby apartment. As the weeks press on, dark truths about Blanche’s past collide with the stark reality of the present, leading to a downward spiral of domestic violence, degradation and madness. Andre Previn’s Streetcar is a faithful adaptation of the classic Tennessee Williams play, with a score that evokes the gravity of the story and the lush, bluesy New Orleans atmosphere.
Kelly Cae Hogan ( Die Walküre, 2011) makes her triumphant return as Blanche DuBois opposite American baritone, David Adam Moore, making his company debut as the menacing and sexy Stanley Kowalski. The second Virginia Opera premiere of the season is helmed by two of operas most in-demand visionaries: Director Sam Helfrich ( Orpheé, 2012) and Conductor Ari Pelto.
A Streetcar Named Desire Synopsis
ACT I
Blanche DuBois has come to New Orleans to visit her sister Stella and Stella’s husband Stanley. Though she has nothing, having lost her job and the family home, she is appalled by the relative poorness of Stanley and Stella’s home. Stanley immediately dislikes Blanche, finding her fake and pretentious. He accuses her of squandering the money from the sale of the home, but she defends herself, saying that the home was lost because of the negligence of her relatives. Later, Stanley is playing poker with his friend Mitch when Stella and Blanche return. Blanche is intrigued by Mitch, and after talking about past heartbreak, they turn on the radio. Stanley is furious, rips the radio out of the wall, and strikes out at Stella. Blanche takes Stella upstairs, and Stanley sobers up, calling out desperately for Stella. She goes to him. The next morning, Blanche entreats Stella to leave Stanley, as he listens from the next room.
ACT II
A few weeks later, Blanche is still staying with Stella and Stanley. Stanley confronts Blanche with the information that there is a rumor circulating that she used to spend time at a run-down and disreputable hotel. Stanley takes Stella, who is pregnant, out for the evening. A young paper boy comes to the door, and Blanche kisses him, but pulls away. Then she gets ready for her date with Mitch.
Blanche and Mitch return from their date, and Mitch tells her that his mother would like to see him settled. Blanche becomes too involved in her own story to respond—she had once been involved with a young man, who when he admitted to her that he was a homosexual, she rejected him and he committed suicide. .
ACT III
Blanche is upstairs getting ready for her birthday party. Stanley tells Stella about Blanche’s illicit past, which ended with her being run out of town. Blanche comes downstairs and the three of them share a quiet dinner. Stanley gives Blanche a birthday present—a one-way ticket back home. Blanche is upset and leaves the table. Stella goes into labor and Stanley takes her to the hospital.
Mitch finally shows up, drunk. Stanley has told him about Blanche’s history. A Mexican flower seller comes to the door, and Blanche starts to reminisce about all the young soldiers who loved her then died. Blanche begs Mitch to marry her, but he says she isn’t even good enough to meet his mother. She demands that he leave. Stanley comes home. Blanche is delusional, seeing specters of past admirers. Stanley threatens her. Blanche tries to defend herself with a broken bottle, but Stanley overpowers her and carries her into his bedroom.
A few days later, Stella is back from the hospital with their baby boy, and the same men sit around the table, playing poker. Blanche is getting ready for an imaginary date. Stella doesn’t believe Blanche’s accusations against Stanley, and has called the asylum to take Blanche away. The doctors arrive at the door, and Blanche leaves with them, relying on the kindness of these strangers.
- Claire Marie Blaustein
About the Composer
André Previn (1929-present)
Conductor, composer and pianist André Previn has received a number of awards and honors for his outstanding musical accomplishments, including both the Austrian and German Cross of Merit, and the Glenn Gould Prize. He is the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Kennedy Center, the London Symphony Orchestra, Gramophone Classic FM, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. He has also received several Grammy awards for recordings, including the CD of his violin concerto “Anne-Sophie” and Bernstein’s Serenade featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter together with the Boston and London Symphony orchestras.
A regular guest with the world’s major orchestras, both in concert and on recordings, André Previn frequently works with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. In addition, he has held chief artistic posts with such orchestras as the Houston Symphony, London Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony and Royal Philharmonic orchestras. In 2009, André Previn was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
As a pianist, André Previn enjoys recording and performing song recitals, chamber music and jazz. He has given recitals with Renée Fleming at Lincoln Center and with Barbara Bonney at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He regularly gives chamber music concerts with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lynn Harrell, as well as with members of the Boston Symphony and London Symphony orchestras, and the Vienna Philharmonic.
André Previn has enjoyed a number of successes as a composer. His first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. His Cello Concerto performed by Daniel Müller-Schott and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra received its premiere in Leipzig in spring 2011. His Double Concerto for Violin and Double Bass for Anne-Sophie Mutter and Roman Patkoló was premiered by the Boston Symphony in 2007, and his Harp Concerto commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony premiered in 2008; his work "Owls", was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2008; his second opera, "Brief Encounter", commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera premiered in 2009 and was released by Deutsche Grammophon in spring 2011; and his double concerto for violin and viola, written for Anne-Sophie Mutter and Yuri Bashmet, received its premiere in 2009.
For his 80th birthday celebrations in 2009, Carnegie Hall presented four concerts which showcased the diversity of his career. Highlights of the 2010 season include concerts with the Czech Philharmonic at the Prague Spring Festival where André Previn performed his Clarinet Sonata in a world premiere together with BSO’s Tom Martin, performances with the Leipzig Gewandhaus, London Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic and a tour of Japan with the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
In the current season, André Previn returns to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Hall, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts in Japan. André Previn records for Deutsche Grammophon. His music is published by G Schirmer, Inc and Chester Music Ltd.
Virginia Opera is proud to feature
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Norfolk, VA View Pricing
February 16, 2013, 8:00 pm
February 20, 2013, 7:30 pm
February 22, 2013, 8:00 pm
February 24, 2013, 2:30 pm
Richmond, VA View Pricing
March 8, 2013, 8:00 pm
March 10, 2013, 2:30 pm
Fairfax, VA View Pricing
March 1, 2013, 8:00 pm
March 3, 2013, 2:00 pm
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Blanche DuBois: Kelly Cae Hogan
Stanley Kowalski: David Adam Moore
Stella Kowalski: Julia Ebner
Harold Mitchell (Mitch): Scott Ramsay
Eunice Hubbell: Margaret Gawrysiak
Steve Hubbell: Matthew DiBattista
A Young Collector: Drew Duncan
Mexican Woman: Sondra Gelb
Nurse: Hilary Ginther
Doctor: Patrick O'Halloran
Pablo Gonzales: Edward Hanlon
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Conductor: Ari Pelto
Stage Director: Sam Helfrich
Scenic Designer: TBA
Costume Designer: Kay Voyce
Lighting Designer: Aaron Black
Wig and Makeup Designer: James P. McGough
Resident Conductor & Chorus Master: Adam Turner
Principal Coach: Laura Friesen
Stage Manager: Christine Sanzone
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