More about Bon Appetit and Trouble in Tahiti

Trouble in Tahiti

Leonard Bernstein's one-act masterpiece, Trouble in Tahiti, repesents Bernstein's first foray into opera musical theater (it premiered in 1952). Bernstein who wrote his own libretto, attacks the subject matter of the malaise lurking beneath the picture perfect family lives of a post-war suburbia. There are only two main characters, a married couple named Sam and Dinah. It depicts the events of one day in their lives with them being left in essentially the same position as they were when the opera started. The opera also features a three person chorus which Bernstein refers to as "A Greek chorus born of a radio commercial." Bernstein sought to make his opera as contemporary as possible. All the music and words derive from American vernacular roots. While it is rumored that the troubled young couple was based on Leonard Bernstein himself and his new bride, Felicia, Monealegre, it is more likely that the story was based on the difficult marriage of Bernstein's own mother and father.

Bon Appetit

In the second half of the evening, BMO will present Hoiby's Bon Appetit, transcribed from a classic Julia Child television broadcast. In this episode, the master chef teaches the makings of a classic French chocolate cake as only she can. Hoiby's lively score illuminates Child's words and witticisms and takes viewers on a musical journey to make the culinary adventure unfold before their eyes. We are extremely fortunate to have Judy Kaye, a veteran Broadway star, taking on the role of Julia