St. Nicholas
Music By Richard Shephard
Story and Libretti by Mark Schweizer
35 minutes
A companion piece to Good King Wenceslas, St. Nicholas is a wonderfully funny version of the legend of St. Nicholas and the three gold coins. Principals include two sopranos, alto, tenor and baritone with an off-stage chorus and a choice of accompaniments - full orchestra, chamber ensemble (2 violins, cello, clarinet, percussion. piano) or piano. Richard Shephard has incorporated three Christmas carols into the score which are sung throughout the piece. Where Good King Wenceslas incorporates the story of the three Kings visiting the manger, this opera sees Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem. And St. Nicholas imparts his message of Christmas - We give because God gave to us the greatest gift of all.
Cast
Juliet (2nd soprano)
Lucy (mezzo)
Sophie (1st soprano)
St. Nicholas (baritone)
Traveler (tenor*)
Woman (mute)
Sir William (tenor*)
Chorus
* may be sung by the same performer
Synopsis
Three sisters, Juliet, Lucy and Sophie are cleaning their house getting ready for Christmas. Their father has died one year ago and they realize that the dowries he had left them have been spent and now they have little chance of finding husbands. Sophie, the youngest and sweetest of the sisters suddenly remembers that it is Christmas Eve and they can still make a wish to St. Nicholas who will certainly help them. After being laughed at by her sisters, Sophie puts three candles on the table to make their wishes and all join in.
Juliet wishes for a husband who is a merchant and very rich. Lucy wishes for a husband who is a scholar (and also very rich!) Sophie
wishes for her own love, Sir William, who has been away for a year at the King’s command. She also laments that if he does look for her, they have left the town where they grew up and he won’t be able to find her. As they blow out the candles and go to bed, St. Nicholas comes in.
He decides to leave three gold coins on the plates - one for each sister. Sophie awakens first and takes all three coins. She plans to buy a fine dress and wear it to church - thus catching her man and leaving her sisters to fend for themselves. St. Nicholas then leaves two more coins - one for Lucy and one for Sophie but Lucy is the next to awaken. She takes both coins and leaves to buy a hat and mittens of finest fur hoping to catch a scholar’s eyes and leave her sisters forever. St. Nicholas leaves one last coin for Sophie and as she finds it she rejoices in the knowledge that the money will keep herself and her sisters from going hungry through the winter.
Sophie hears a knock at the door and opens it to find two travelers; a man and his wife who is about to deliver a baby. They ask for
shelter and food, but Sophie has nothing to give them. She offers them her gold coin and tells them of an inn nearby where they will
find a fine room, food and warmth. They thank her and leave for the inn.
The two sisters come back from their buying spree and when they see what the other has bought, they are filled with jealousy. Then,
when they discover that Sophie had a gold coin also that they could have spent on finery, their jealousy turns to rage and they tear each other’s new clothes. St. Nicholas, who has been watching, comes in and chastises the two girls for their greed.
Suddenly there is a knock at the door and Sir William enters. He had been searching for Sophie and was about to leave the town when he met two travelers and their new baby at the inn. They told him of a kind and generous girl who had given them enough money tfinish their journey. Sir William came immediately to the house, hoping it was his beloved Sophie. He pledges to marry her as St. Nicholas entreats all to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Click here to download the libretto
Click on the speaker to listen to "St. Nicholas."
