New opera by Father Munkelt

Anyone who attends the traditional Latin Mass in the northeast states of the U.S. has likely encountered Father Richard Munkelt, who has been in-residence at Saint Anthony of Padua (run by the Institute of Christ the King) in West Orange, New Jersey, for many years. He is a gifted philosopher, professor and priest -- and, now, a librettist.

Father Richard Munkelt; photo credit: Gregory A. Shemitz of CNS

Father Munkelt has written the lyrics to a new opera, "Gracchus," which will be performed this month in Connecticut. If you or anyone you know will be in the tri-state area on Saturday, August 19, please consider attending the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, at 4 p.m. with tickets in hand. I have not yet heard the opera but, if the words are anything like the dozens of sermons I have heard in person by Father Munkelt, the guest is in for a treat.

Details can be found here.

World Premiere of the Opera Gracchus

The opera Gracchus, a new work by composer David Hughes and librettist Fr. Richard Munkelt, is set to premiere with a single performance at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut on Saturday, August 19 at 4:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at https://www.palacestamford.org/, and a synopsis of the opera and bios of the creators and cast is at

https://gracchusopera.com/.

The opera is set in the late Roman Republic, and its hero is Gaius Gracchus, who was Tribune of Rome in the 120’s B.C.  The story, which is based on historical events and characters, concerns the intersection of Gaius’s civic and family life, and his overcoming political and personal adversity to achieve the destiny for which he was born.  The work is scored for nine soloists, a chorus, and orchestra, and the premiere will be a fully staged production.

“Gracchus is modern opera on a grand scale,” said librettist Fr. Richard Munkelt. “The opera’s ancient setting, the late Roman Republic, a period of socio-economic dislocation and factional strife, lends itself to an allegory of contemporary political history.  Though based on Plutarch’s Lives, the story is an energetic fiction propelled by timeless questions of the human condition.  It incorporates many of the marks of high classical drama: a titanic struggle to the death between two enemies, a ghost, a mysterious prophetess, betrayal of friendship, revenge, family strife, infidelity, reconciliation, emotional release, and the spilling and binding of blood.  All this is elevated and crowned by a soaring musical score.”