Oberlin Opera Theater Presents “L’Amant Anonyme,” a Witty and Heartfelt Two-sided Love Triangle.

Composed in the late 1700s by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, with a libretto based on the play by Stéphanie Félicité de Genlis, L'amant Anonyme is an opéra comique—a French form of opera in which spoken dialogue alternates with self-contained musical numbers—that offers a witty and charming tale of love hindered by the chains of society. This production is brought to life through the direction of Fenlon Lamb and the conducting of Kelly Kuo. 

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was a man of many talents. Outside of being considered the first black composer of the classical era, he was an athlete, conductor, fencer, and violinist. In his only surviving opera, L’Amant Anonyme, the audience is drawn into the story of a man who has long concealed his love for Léontine, spending years sending anonymous gifts and letters. With the assistance of friends at Madame Léotine’s chateau, much confusion and hijinks unfold as the mystery of the “anonymous lover”’s identity begins to unravel. 

“It’s a love triangle between two people, with a push and pull where the two of them get in their own way,” explains Fenlon Lamb, guest director and opera theater professor. “The opera offers a fuller portrayal of the time period and includes a lot more diverse ideas on who is worthy of love and who can be together in a romantic sense… I think the librettist being a woman may have informed the themes of women owning land, property, and money, and the idea of being the correct class in order to be in love with somebody.” 

Lamb is excited for audiences to experience “students being able to act, sing, and move convincingly in the style of this time period–with a pantomime full of frolic and rollicking good times.”

Guest Conductor Kelly Kuo reflects on Bologne’s legacy, saying, “He would likely have been a superstar, if it wasn’t for the color of his skin.” 

"There's no question that in a different time, there would be a lot more people talking about him. This composer lived in a time where marriage between classes was not an option for him due to his racial background. The parallels between that and the opera are very clear to me.” 

Kuo adds, “in a world that currently seems to lean more and more towards being closed-minded, it's more important than ever to be curious, to want to learn about others, to create rather than destroy, and to lift up rather than bring down, and I think this production goes a long way towards embracing those values.” 

Oberlin Opera Theater’s production of L’Amant Anonyme will be sung in French with dialogue in English with various other works of Bologne’s integrated throughout. Performances will be held in Hall Auditorium November 6 through 8 at 8 p.m. and November 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now available on the Oberlin College website–reserved seating is $15 and student, faculty, alumni, and senior citizen discounted tickets are available for $10.