Il trittico

Lovers. Mothers. Gold-diggers. In this spectacular trio of Puccini operas, love’s contrasts are laid bare. The Olivier Award-winning Richard Jones directs, and Speranza Scappucci conducts three casts featuring Natalya Romaniw, Étienne Dupuis, SeokJong Baek, Ermonela Jaho and Bryn Terfel. ## The stories of Il trittico In Il tabarro, Giorgetta seeks relief from her misery at the death of her baby by having an affair – how will her husband Michele react? In Suor Angelica, the nun Angelica is visited by a relative who brings unwelcome news. And in Gianni Schicchi, a Florentine family enlists the cunning Schicchi to help them rewrite a will, little knowing that Schicchi has his own plans.  ## Il tabarro Giorgetta, the wife of Michele, a Parisian barge owner, has fallen in love with Luigi, one of her husband’s workers in the dockyard – though Michele is growing increasingly suspicious. Michele forces Luigi to admit his relationship with Giorgetta and then strangles him. He covers the body with the cloak he used to wrap Giorgetta and their child, who died in infancy. Giorgetta, repentant, approaches – and Michele reveals her lover’s corpse. ## Suor Angelica Sister Angelica has been forced to enter a convent by her family, following a scandal. Her aunt, the Princess pays her first visit since Angelica entered the convent years ago, asking Angelica to sign over her inheritance to her younger sister. But the Princess comes with devastating news of Angelica’s illegitimate son, whom she has thought of every day since she entered the convent. Two years ago, at the age of five, the boy died. Overwhelmed with despair, Suor Angelica takes poison. Realising that suicide is a mortal sin, she prays to the Virgin Mary for forgiveness. ## Gianni Schicchi When Buoso Donati dies, his family are horrified to learn that he has left all his money to a monastery. They turn to the cunning Gianni Schicchi to help them change his will. But the plan backfires! Gianni Schicchi, impersonating Donati, makes a will leaving the best of the inheritance to himself – while cheerfully reminding the outraged family of the gruesome punishment they face if their plot is revealed.