Sisterly Bonds: How a Medieval Muse Shapes a Modern Opera
LA Opera to Premiere "Hildegard," A Tale of Creativity and Courage
This fall, the LA Opera, in collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects, will debut the world premiere of "Hildegard" at The Wallis from November 5 to 9. Composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider, a prominent figure in contemporary music, the opera delves into the lives of two remarkable medieval women.
Set in the year 1147, the story highlights Hildegard of Bingen, a German Benedictine abbess known for her diverse talents, alongside her close companion, Richardis von Stade. Historically, this was a time when women were often marginalized.
Snider has expressed a deep connection to Hildegard’s story, which she believes transcends the monastic austerity of the era, capturing themes of resistance and self-assertion. “Hildegard” aims to showcase the struggle for artistic expression amidst oppression. “I started thinking about her 25 years ago,” Snider recalled, citing her first encounter with Hildegard’s story through a book on migraines by Oliver Sacks. This sparked a fascination with Hildegard’s life and music, which proved much more compelling than the narrative surrounding her health.
Celebrated for her groundbreaking achievements, Hildegard was canonized as a saint and became a Doctor of the Church in 2012, one of only four women to receive this honor. Snider applauded Hildegard for rising above the limitations imposed on women of her time, saying, “Here’s this woman with no education who claimed to be a mouthpiece for God… that was so extraordinary for her time.”
The themes of power and patriarchy in Hildegard’s life, along with her relationship with Richardis, resonate with present-day issues of sexuality and acceptance. “It allows us to look at where we are 900 years later and ask whether we have come much further in accepting same-sex relationships,” Snider noted.
The opera does not only explore those struggles; it also celebrates the creative partnership between Hildegard and Richardis. “I wanted to show a relationship between two women that was nurturing and collaborative,” Snider said. “They had this alchemical synergistic relationship where they could vibe off each other’s creativity.”
The cast includes Nola Richardson as Hildegard, Mikaela Bennett as Richardis, and Chloe Engel as the Faceless Woman. Directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, with musical direction by Gabriel Crouch, the opera promises to shed light on vital historical narratives.
Coy Middlebrook, director of programming at The Wallis, spoke highly of the collaboration: “Beth Morrison is at the forefront of creating the environment and the capacity to bring new opera to audiences.” He described Snider as a leading composer of contemporary classical music, drawing parallels between her work and Hildegard’s pioneering contributions to music.
Snider’s journey with the opera was shaped significantly by Morrison, who encouraged her to shift focus from a purely academic perspective to a narrative that could resonate universally. Incorporating themes of art therapy, Snider portrays Richardis as someone struggling with epilepsy, a condition stigmatized in the Middle Ages, with Hildegard trying to heal her through creativity.
As the opera develops, it introduces a character known as the Faceless Woman, representing aspects of Hildegard’s unacknowledged identity. Snider describes Hildegard’s music as beautifully complex, which resonates deeply with her own artistic inclinations: “When I discovered her music, it felt like a homecoming.”
Hildegard: Key Details
- Who: LA Opera, Beth Morrison Projects
- Where: The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 North Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
- When: 7:30 p.m. November 5-8, 2 p.m. November 9
- Tickets: Available through LA Opera’s official site.
