Opera: Gethsemane

                                                                        Gethsemane Program Notes

         Every year, Orthodox Christians reenact the events that took place from the raising of Lazarus on the Saturday before Palm Sunday to Jesus’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday (Pascha).Liturgical services follow Jesus from his visit to Lazarus’s tomb, to his entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, Judas’s betrayal and the seizure in Gethsemane, to Jesus’s meetings with Herod, the Council, and Pilate, ending in his crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. Some communities also have been known to stage dramatic reenactments of some of these events, as recounted in Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel, The Greek Passion.          

          This opera, like those dramatic reenactments, exists at the boundary between secular drama and sacred oratorio. It takes place entirely in the hour before Jesus is seized in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he has gone with his three leading disciples, Peter, John, and James. There is scant scriptural evidence about the details of how Jesus passes this hour. Do his disciples ask him questions, and if so, how does he respond to them? Jesus prays to his Father, and we know something about what Jesus says in those prayers, but what does his Father, or possibly the heavenly host of angels, say to Jesus as he prays? Does the devil attempt to converse with Jesus in Gethsemane? If so, what does Satan understand about Jesus’s intentions, and what might Satan want to accomplish by such a conversation? How can Satan possibly convince Judas, who has walked alongside Jesus for three years and witnessed his many miracles, to betray Jesus?

          Gethsemane proposes answers to those questions. Its theme, like the Orthodox reenactment of Holy Week, is the centrality and radical nature of Jesus’s lesson that mankind must learn sacrificial love to be reunited with God. Sacrificial love is not imaginable prior to the Crucifixion—not to the devil, nor to Jesus’s disciples (who see it as an obstacle to gaining followers, and who confuse it with weakness). Jesus’s decision to climb onto the cross not only accomplishes the objective of overcoming death, it makes it possible for his followers to understand and imitate his teaching of sacrificial love.

          Gethsemane is a time for choosing, an ever-present where past and future coexist, visible and undivided, where creation, joy, beauty, pain, sacrifice, death, and resurrection reveal the loving thread that knits them together.

Charles Calomiris

Pano Hora, Colorado

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An Opera in One Act, Music and Libretto by Charles Calomiris

Synopsis

          Jesus and his three disciples (Peter, John, and James) are together in the garden, Gethsemane. Jesus has asked them to pray and watch with him, and they have already fallen asleep twice. Upon being awakened the second time, Peter asks if Jesus can help them stay awake by explaining how his “Golden Rule,” and his mandate to love one’s enemies, can work as a message to attract followers. Jesus leads them in the aria, “Pray and Watch with Me.” As the three pray with Jesus, the devil communicates subconsciously with the disciples, reminding them that they are tired and bored, questioning whether Jesus understands how tired they are, and wondering what the point is of being out in a garden in the middle of the night. The devil’s influence leads the three to fall asleep a third time.

          Satan intrudes on Jesus’s praying to taunt him, noting that his movement is running into trouble, predicting that his friends will abandon him, and pointing out that Jesus’s own disciple, Judas, is already on the way to arrest him. The devil seeks to understand Jesus’s plan and to portray the Father as unjust and uncaring in “Easy for Him.” Jesus refuses to engage with the devil, who encourages Jesus to use his power to destroy those who oppose him (“The Only Sensible Choice”) as a way to protect his friends and family from persecution after Jesus returns to heaven to escape capture. The devil is unable to imagine the possibility that Jesus will sacrifice himself instead.

          After Satan exits, an Angelic Choir comforts Jesus with “Blessed,” using his own words of comfort from the Sermon on the Plain. Jesus then resumes praying to the Father, and sings “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani,” which combines his own thoughts (dreading what is about to happen) with parts of Psalm 22, which foreshadows his suffering on the cross. After Jesus finishes “Eli, Eli…”, the Father answers by reminding Jesus of all that has led to this moment, singing “Climb Upon Your Cross.”

          Jesus notices the band of soldiers approaching in the distance, while his disciples remain asleep. Jesus and the devil offer opposing views to Judas (who is approaching in the distance with soldiers) in the aria, “Devil’s Do.” Before they arrive, Jesus, having made his choice, sings “Lift Me Up.”

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Track List

1. Overture

2. The Golden Rule

3. Pray and Watch with Me

4. The Only Sensible Choice

5. Easy for him

6. Blessed

7. Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani

8. Climb Upon Your Cross

9. Devil’s Do

10. Lift Me Up

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Musicians

Orchestra

Flute: Ginevra Petrucci

Oboe: Michelle Farah

Clarinet: Kai Hirayama

Bassoon: Tylor Thomas

Violin: Anthony Bracewell

Viola: Ljova Zhurbin

Cello: Luke Krafka (all tracks except 6), Grace Ho (track 6)

Double Bass: Giuseppe Brent

Percussion: Oliver Xu

Harp: Chelsea Lane

Cimbalom: Erzsi Gódor

Trumpet: Alex Bender

Horn: Priscilla (track 10), Kyle Hoyt (track 8), Cort Roberts (all tracks except 8 and 10)

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Choir

Cathedral Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (track 6),

Director: Costas Tsourakis

Choir Members: Hilary Baboukis, Adam Cromer, Christine Duncan, Raymon Geis, Stephan

Kirchgraber, John Koch, Julia Lamon, John Maderazo, Michael Riley, Melody Joy Rubin,

Kirsten Shah, Alyson Spina 

Solo Vocalists

Tenor (Jesus): Arnold Livingston Geis

Mezzo Soprano (Satan): Sophie Delphis

Baritone (God the Father): Suchan Kim

Baritone (Peter): Giuseppe Brent

Tenor (John): Nick Nesbitt

Bass (James): Matthew Curran (track 3), Rocky Sellers (track 2)

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Arnold Livingston Geis received his Master of Music from USC and was a graduate of the Cafritz Young the world, including with the New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Theater, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Phoenix Symphony, The Kennedy Center, and the Shangai Philharmonic. He has been an Apprentice Artist or Young Artist with several opera companies. He also records solo vocals for many television programs and films, including The Jungle Book and Star Wars.AG-AFTRA, AGMA, A

Sophie Delphis is a Franco-American mezzo-soprano known for her diverse operatic roles, including Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro) and Carmen in Carmen. She’s also an accomplished recitalist, performing extensively in the US and China. Sophie’s repertoire includes works by Ravel, Saariaho, Bolcom, Schoenberg, and Messiaen. She is featured on the Grammy Award-nominated Naxos recording of Milhaud’s Oresteia trilogy. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in voice performance in New York.

Suchan Kim, a native of Busan, South Korea, has performed a wide variety of baritone, and sometimes bass, roles in opera companies throughout the world. His role credits include major roles in a wide range of operas, and he has received numerous awards in competitions. Mr. Kim holds degrees from Korea National University of Arts, Mannes College, and the New School for Music.

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Libretto

The Golden Rule

Jesus: Asleep again? Didn’t I ask you twice to pray, to stand watch with me, lest you fall into temptation?

Can you not watch for one hour, to pray with me? Yes, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Three Disciples: Forgive us, Lord.

Jesus: Try again.

Peter: Teacher, to help us stay awake, perhaps you could explain something to us? There’s a question

we’ve been meaning to ask you since you spoke to the crowd near Sidon.

Jesus: Go on. What is it?

Peter and James: You preached that we should love our enemies. Do good to those who hate us. Treat

others as we would wish to be treated, no matter how they might treat us.

Three Disciples: But how can we succeed if we behave and speak that way? How will men listen to us, if

we appear to be weak?

Jesus: What is strong? What is weak? It is not weak to be merciful. It is not strong to judge others. Is it

strong to let others control you? If you return evil for evil, you put the enemy in charge of what you do.

You have made yourselves his slaves. Follow the path to perfect love. Bear witness to it in your words,

even unto death. People will see a strength in you beyond their imagining, beyond this world.

John: What is perfect love?

James: How can we find the strength to love even unto death?

Jesus: Pray with me.

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Pray and Watch with Me

Jesus: Pray and watch with me / John: I will pray with you / Peter: Pray and watch with you

Jesus: Learn to love from me / Three Disciples: Learn to love from you.

Jesus and Disciples: Love is patient, and love is kind, and it does not envy, and it does not boast. It is not

proud. It is not self-seeking. Love always protects and hopes, always trusts. Love never fails. Love is not

quick to anger. Love delights not in evil. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not dishonor others.

Love protects and hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails. / Satan: This is so monotonous.

How much longer can we stand it. Doesn’t he know how tired we are. It’s the middle of the night! I don’t

get it. What’s the point of being here? What are we watching for?

Jesus and Disciples: Love rejoices in truth. Love knows no fear. Perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love

can change the world. Love offers the other cheek. Love blesses those that curse you. Love never fails.

/ Satan: Here we go again. Will we be here until morning? It’s been such a long day.

/ Satan and Disciples: I’m so tired. Days since a good sleep. Why not shut my eyes a little? My eyelids

feel so heavy. Just for a moment. He will never notice.

Satan: [The disciples start to fall asleep.] Here goes the first one. Nighty night. Now the second one. And

now the third and last one.

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The Only Sensible Choice

Satan: So these are the leaders who will change the world. Poor things. Let the children sleep. It’s time

for us grown-ups to talk. You should have listened in the desert. We would have made a great team. Your

plan is not going well. The mob who loved you three days ago is already turning against you. Time to go

home to Daddy and give up this hopeless quest. Your own disciple, Judas, just now conspired with the

council against you. He’s on his way now to arrest you. But you knew that. (Jesus gives no response.)

What will you do to the mob? What will you do to the council? You could flee now, but then what about

your beloved mother and your friends? The mob surely would seize them in your place, make an example

of them after you’ve gone. Or you could show them your power! Destroy your enemies! It’s the only

sensible choice. That way, no one will dare to cross you. They’ll leave your family and friends alone.

Yes, I know, that’s not Daddy’s plan. But perhaps his plans are overrated.

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Easy for Him

Satan: He let me torture Job just to prove his point. Let me kill all his kids, I really busted up the joint. All

just collateral damage in his grand scheme. You’re better off alone than a member of that team. Job just

sat there in ashes while he listened to three fools. All just to test obedience to Daddy’s rules.

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(Chorus) Easy for him, easy for him, easy to send you here. Sits on his throne surrounded by drones. Your

father need never fear. What about Mom? And all your friends? After you have gone back home? Although

you know eventually they’ll come to be with me, how they die is up to you.

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He made your mother pregnant when she was just a girl. Joseph almost dumped her once the change was

visible. Herod learned all about you from chatty stargazers from the East, then slaughtered all those

babies while you escaped to Egypt. John baptized you in the Jordan, announced your ministry. Soon he

found his head separated from his body.

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(Repeat chorus)

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You came to my world with a mission from above. But most people here don’t buy your talk about love.

The mob welcomed you with palms while their leaders plot your death. The mob will turn on you just for

the fun of it. You must show them your true power, crush them before you go home, or they’ll come for

your Mom and your friends after you are gone.

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(Repeat chorus)

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[Jesus returns to praying, and the Angelic Choir comforts him by singing “Blessed”]

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Blessed (Luke: 6, The Sermon on the Plain)

Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.

Blessed are you that weep, for you shall laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you,

And when they exclude and revile you,

And cast out your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day, rejoice and leap for joy.

Behold your reward in heaven is great.

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Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani

Jesus: Father, I know our purpose is now at hand, the reason I came here, the way to give them life. But

now that it’s only hours away, it is hard to bear. I shake. I sweat blood. I wonder if there’s another way.

The holy verses that inspired me now fill me with dread. [Jesus recites Psalm 22] Eli, Eli, lama

sabachthani. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted and

you delivered them. They laugh me to scorn, shoot out their lip. They shake their heads, saying ‘he trusted

the Lord, let God deliver him.’ They pierce my hands and my feet. They part my garments among them,

cast lots for my clothes. Be not far from me, Lord. There is none to help. All the ends of earth shall

remember. The nations shall worship before you. All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.

They shall come and declare that he has done this.

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Climb Upon Your Cross

The Father: When life began man lived with God in a garden. But being there couldn’t teach them how to

live, how to listen, how to love. They could see only themselves, and knew only appetite. Appetite led

them to sin, and to death in the world outside the garden. In the world they are lost in sin. They die. They

can’t find their way to us. But you chose to go to them, conquer death and bring them home.

(Chorus) Save, O Christ, your people. Climb upon your cross. Defeat the enemy. And then reign over all

the world. A kingdom of peace, love that lasts forever. Reunite man with God. Build your new Jerusalem.

[Icons of saints are projected in the background during the instrumental interlude at the end of the chorus,

remaining and being added to with each singing of the chorus.]

I cannot prevent your pain. There is no other way. They will mock you, slap your head, spit upon you.

They will scourge you. They will crucify you, my Son. They will pierce you in your side. Murder you for

offering them life. Your friends will forsake you. And yet still you will love them.

(Repeat chorus. The last repetition adds: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the Glory of the Lord has

shone upon you, from the hymn, “O Aggelos Eboa”).

[Jesus sees torches in the distance, and knows that Judas and the soldiers are approaching. Drumbeats

begin in the distance. Then the stage switches to be located in the distance, with Judas and soldiers now in

center stage, with Jesus and Satan on opposing sides sending competing subliminal messages to Judas in

“Devil’s Do.”]

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Devil’s Do

Satan: You are a hero to your people. You’ve been blessed by the high priest. Yes, you will save them

from the Romans, prevent slaughter in the streets. The name of Judas will be remembered for your

courage, and for peace. Not like those phonies following teacher without thinking, just to please. He

wowed the mob, had a parade, but he is weak, they’ll turn on him. Tonight we’re safe to make our move,

prevent a deadly schism. The council paid you. You solved their problem. Time to start a new life, on

your own. Get far away from all those stupid fishermen.

Jesus: Love expects nothing in return. Love knows no fear. Love casts out fear. Love blesses those that

curse you, turns the other cheek. Keeps no record of wrongs. It’s not self-seeking. Love always protects

and hopes, always trusts. Love never fails. We walked three years together. You saw me bring three

people back to life, cleanse the lepers, give sight to the blind and cast out demons. I gave you power to do

the same.

[Jesus and Satan repeat the above lines, singing together. The scene returns to the garden, where Jesus is

alone, and sings “Lift Me Up”]

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Lift Me Up

Jesus: Lift me up onto the cross to give myself for you. Hate me, taunt me, stab me, kill me, I’ll do what I

must do. Hades cannot contain me. I’ll soon destroy its gates. Nail me to the tree of life so I can defeat hate.

Pascha is for all mankind, protected by my blood. But this lamb has a surprise for Satan, he’ll find I’m no

rosebud. One day of battle, one day of rest, on the third day I rise to take you all to see my Father in His

home on high. Lift me up onto the cross to give myself for you. Hate me, taunt me, stab me, kill me, I’ll do

what I must do. Hades cannot contain me. It does not have the breadth. Nail me to the cross so I can defeat

death. Each of us has a cross to bear, a purpose we must face. Make your choice, don’t fool yourself, pick it

up and finish the race. Hades cannot contain you, I’ll soon fill it with light. Nail me to the cross so I can

give you life.

                                                                                                          THE END

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Take a listen to “Climb Upon Your Cross” aria from the opera, Gethsemane:

Climb Upon Your Cross

Iconography credits:

Fr Maximos Constas

Fr Aristidis Garinis

Michael J. Condoleon

Panteleimon N. Condoleon