Nannan, an Opera in Two Acts - A Creative Brief

NANNAN Opera in two acts

Music and Libretto by

Wang Jie Act I, Scene 1 & 2 Act II, Scene 3

Wang Jie Music PO Box 299 New York, NY 10025 Š 2007 by Wang Jie Music (ASCAP) New York, NY International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved

Cast of Characters Principal Roles Nannan, Dramatic Soprano - a young lady in her late 20s, Master’s first wife, Minshen’s childhood friend Minshen, Tenor - a gentleman in his late 20s, Master’s younger brother, who just graduated from college and returned home from London.

Lumei, Light Lyric Soprano - a young and attractive opera singer, married to the Master as concubine.

Master, Bass-Baritone - the head of the noble family, Nannan’s husband, who inherited major wealth from his deceased parents.

Secondary Roles The Maid, Mezzo-Soprano - a 32-year-old uneducated lady.

The Missionary, Bass-Baritone - a foreigner in his late 40s.

The Steward on the ship, Baritone - a 40-year-old man.

Servants/Street Crowd/Pier Crowd, SATB: min. 36 voices∗

Total Duration: 120 minutes, the composer suggests a single intermission of 20 minutes’.

In This Version, which is without choir: Duration of Act I/Scene 1 & 2: ca.15 minutes Duration of Act II/Scene 3: ca. 15 minutes

This is a special edition written for VOX 2007, produced by New York City Opera This work was funded in part by the Composer Assistance Program of the American Music Center

∗

The choir has been eliminated in this version, due to the fact that VOX does not provide a chorus for the reading.

ii

Set in 1948 as Communist forces close in on the city of Nanjin, Wang Jie’s Nannan is the tragic story of a noble wife whose life unravels after she learns she is barren and her husband takes a concubine.



SYNOPSIS



Setting: Nanjing, 1948-1949, in one of the wealthiest households in the capital city, at the end of the long and bloody Chinese Civil War. Act I, Scene 1: Mansion Hall Minshen returns home from London, and is surprised to find his older brother marrying a concubine as a second wife, the beautiful opera singer, Lumei. His childhood friend, Nannan, is his brother’s first wife, but in four years she has not produced a child.

Act I, Scene 2: Garden outside Nannan’s Chambers Nannan fears that she is barren. Minshen comforts her, displaying what appear to be romantic feelings for her. They are interrupted by the announcement of Lumei’s pregnancy. Nannan is forced to give up her chambers and garden to the concubine.

Act I, Scene 3: City Street Nannan is in desperate straits when she comes across Christian missionaries promising salvation. Misunderstanding, she is about ready to be baptized when Minshen arrives. As Communist troops chase the missionaries offstage, Minshen seduces Nannan with a poetic aria. As Nannan and Minshen embrace, the Maid is spying on them.

Act II, Scene 1: Garden outside Lumei’s Chambers Having learned it from the Maid, Lumei takes pleasure in relating Nannan’s infidelity to her husband. Master angrily confronts Nannan and threatens her with divorce.

Act II, Scene 2: Mansion Hall The family is forced to flee the approaching Communists. Master is going to the provinces, but new laws allow him only one wife. Minshen confronts his brother, accusing him of abandoning his first wife. They quarrel, then Minshen announces his love for Nannan, and offers to take her to England with him.

Act II, Scene 3: Ocean Liner Minshen and Nannan quarrel, and he tells her that he would never marry a barren woman. When he has left, the distraught Nannan quietly throws herself overboard and drowns.

iii



TREATMENT



Act I, Scene 1: Mansion Hall, 1948 Nanjing A short prelude plays with the curtain down.

The music turns celebratory as the curtain rises on a stage divided in two: the final preparations for a grand wedding inside the mansion on one side, and an empty walkway leading to the front door on the other.

The distinguished Master stands alongside Lumei, an opera singer from a lower class, who is marrying him as a second wife, a concubine. In turn the bride and groom speak of their hopes for the future: first Lumei, then Master. Their greatest wish is to have a male child together. The Chorus, made up of various servants and houseguests, echoes their wishes for good fortune.

On the opposite side of the stage, Minshen, Master’s younger brother, returns from his education in London with a steamer trunk. He tells of how excited he is to be home, especially since he will see his childhood friend, Nannan, now his sister-in-law. As he steps in the front door, he is shocked to see a wedding about to take place.

The wedding is being held up because Nannan, Master’s first wife, is nowhere to be found. Just as Master orders the Maid to fetch her, the elegant Nannan walks on.

During the ceremony, although she is dutiful and proper, it is obvious Nannan’s heart is broken. Minshen watches in silence from the doorway until the wedding is over, then greets Master.

The lights go down on the rest of the scene and a spotlight illuminates Nannan as she sings an aria which reveals the reason for Master’s concubine: in four years of matrimony, she has not produced a child.

Act I, Scene 2: Garden outside Nannan’s Chambers A group of eight Sopranos pick flowers in the garden as they sing about Nannan’s plight and the future of the household. When they see Nannan approaching, they run off.

Alone in her garden, Nannan sings of her worries, wondering if she will ever hear the heartbeat of a child in her womb.

Minshen hears her and they sing a poetic duet, in which he subtly lets the audience know that he has romantic feelings for Nannan.

They are interrupted by the Maid and Chorus, loudly proclaiming the news that Lumei is pregnant.

Nannan’s worst fears are realized. Lumei comes into the gardens, and shares her good news—outwardly polite, but gloating just beneath the surface. Nannan offers her “sister” congratulations, although inside her heart is broken. Master arrives and Lumei manipulates the situation to her advantage, complaining about the size of her rooms, which forces Nannan to offer her chambers to the expecting mother. Lumei greedily accepts.

Act I, Scene 3: City Street Nannan, desperate for some way out of her quandry, is summarily thrown out of a doctor’s office in town. Various Street People (Chorus) lament her misfortune.

iv

As Nannan plaintively calls out for help, she hears a voice, promising her salvation.

At first she thinks she is going mad, but when she follows the sound, she finds a Christian Missionary and his Followers (Chorus).

The Missionary tells Nannan that she will be saved. She misunderstands his “firstborn son” speech about Jesus, thinking he is promising him a child. The Followers are in the background, acting out the story of Christ’s life.

Minshen arrives and is angry to see the Missionary preparing to baptize Nannan.

He interrupts, arguing with the Missionary, telling Nannan that the Christians are fools.

Suddenly, Communist Troops storm the stage. The Missionary and his Followers (Chorus) flee and the Street People (Chorus) all hide. Minshen laughs at their sudden loss of faith.

Minshen turns to Nannan and begins to tell her the story of a young boy who fell in love with a young girl from a neighboring estate. As his aria continues, Nannan realizes he is talking about her. She protests at first, but he makes her feel beautiful and desired, then swears to care for her.

During the preceding, the Street People (Chorus) are moving out of their hiding places inch by inch, their movements so slow as to be imperceptible. By the end of the scene, they are onstage again.

When Minshen leads Nannan offstage to make love to her, the Maid steps out of the group of onlooking Street People (Chorus) and the stage goes black.

Act II, Scene 1: Garden outside Lumei’s Chambers In the garden outside her new chambers, Lumei circles around the sitting Master.

She complains that Nannan’s spirit is still inside the rooms, and Master agrees to redecorate. She tells Master that she thinks she’s pregnant with a boy—he’s overjoyed. But what future will he have, Lumei asks, being the son of a lowly concubine? She wants Master to make her his first wife. He tells her that he cannot, that Nannan is virtuous and has suffered enough, through no fault of her own.

Lumei says she doesn’t feel well, but as she’s leaving, the Maid comes in and whispers in her ear. Lumei’s whole attitude suddenly changes. She tells Master what she has learned: first, that Nannan has fallen under the spell of Christians. Master is bothered, but hardly incensed. Then Lumei, wringing her hands in mock concern, tells Master than Nannan is having an affair with Minshen. Master explodes with anger and demands to see Nannan.

As Nannan arrives, Lumei pretends to leave, but instead hides just beyond the stone garden wall, eavesdropping. As Master and Nannan speak, Lumei gleefully comments to herself about Nannan’s fall from grace.

Master tells Nannan to stop seeing the Christians. He explains that it is a delicate time politically, and she is jeopardizing the reputation of the entire family. She hangs her head and apologizes, telling him that it was only because she was so ashamed and desperate that she sought solace in the foreign religion.

Then Master angrily confronts her about seeing Minshen. He asks her what she thought was going to happen, if she was stupid enough to think his brother would marry a barren woman. Nannan explains that she simply wanted to be loved, to feel appreciated and beautiful. Master tells her she is foolish and threatens her with divorce. Nannan knows this would be the end of her life.

The scene ends with a loud offstage explosion—the Communists are closing in. v

Act II, Scene 2: Mansion Hall The Communist victory is at hand, and the family’s political and financial future is in grave peril. Master has assembled the entire family, and he begins by telling them that he must flee his estate and will be seeking safe haven with relatives in the provinces.

Minshen interrupts to say that he will not be joining his brother and will instead return to England. Nannan looks devastated by this news.

But Master has an even more upsetting revelation—under the Communists, only one wife will be allowed. Obviously, with Lumei pregnant, Nannan will need to be the one divorced. Master presents her with paperwork.

Minshen accuses his brother of being selfish and unfeeling. He says that Master knows that Nannan will be socially ruined, her life worthless. Master places a large sum of cash on the table, saying that he is doing everything he can for Nannan. Minshen continues to challenge Master, asking what good money is going to do Nannan. All of her family has already been imprisoned, and she has nowhere to go.

Master becomes angry with Minshen, asking him what he is doing for Nannan.

Minshen steps up to the challenge and loudly announces that he is in love with Nannan.

He turns to Nannan and chivalrously offers to take her to England with him. She graciously accepts.

Nannan signs the divorce papers as the sounds of gunfire outside grow closer.

Act II, Scene 3: Ocean Liner Onboard the ship to England, Minshen and Nannan share a private room and sing a bittersweet duet full of their sadness at leaving the past behind and hopes for the future ahead.

The Steward enters with room service, mistakenly referring to them as newlyweds, and Minshen sharply corrects him. Nannan is stung, and asks Minshen why he is embarrassed to be thought of as her husband. Minshen tries to assuage her doubts by singing of his love for her.

Nannan tells Minshen that if he truly loves her, he would marry her at once.

Minshen becomes irritated by her badgering of him, and snaps back that he would never marry a barren woman. Minshen storms out, slamming the door behind him.

Up on deck, Minshen realizes that he has hurt Nannan, and worries that maybe he just pities her and doesn’t truly love her. He comes across the Steward and they begin to talk.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship, a distraught Nannan throws herself overboard.

Minshen and the Steward hear that someone has leapt off the ship and drowned.

Minshen remarks on the fragility of life, and decides he does love Nannan, and must apologize.

Minshen runs back to the empty room, and on the final chord, the curtain descends.

vi

Nannan

Music and Libretto by Wang Jie Act 1, scene 1

Nanjin, China, September 1948.

The stage is divided between the inside of the mansion, where a wedding ceremony is taking place, and the empty hallway leading to the mansion’s entrance. NANNAN is standing next to her husband, the MASTER. They are welcoming the MASTER’S concubine, an opera singer LUMEI. Lumei:

Master:

Minshen:

I have learned to speak of happiness, But to be happy I have not learned.

I sang and thousands cried, The roles I’ve played are countless, Today I am the Master’s mistress, Today I am an envied wife, This is not enough.

This is never enough.

The Master’s mistress, an envied wife, A real mansion’s satisfaction, Deep as its hallways, Was never mine.

But soon I will own my husband When I bear his son.

Master and Lumei:

Bow to the heaven; Bow to the Ancestor; Bow to each other.

Master:

(suddenly noticing Minshen at the door) So the prodigal son returns!

Minshen:

Shock!

Nannan:

Four years! Four years!

Where is my baby?

Not even a shadow!

NANNAN spot-lighted, she sings an arioso while others exit quietly.

Nannan cont:

I have learned to speak of happiness, But to be happy I have not learned.

Noble born, nobly taught, Bred from day one to be the first and finest wife!

Four years ago, This day was mine.

In red I wore, happiness fulfilled.

But four years!

Where is my baby?

My husband shattered by shame.

What if I am barren?

Oh, the cruelest fate, How dare you bring home a concubine?!

I have learned to speak of happiness, But to be happy I have not learned.

Devoted son, my father’s heir, The roles I’ve played are countless: Father chose my life and wife.

When he passed on, my word was law, This is not enough.

This is never enough.

A real mansion’s satisfaction, Deep as its hallways, Was never mine.

But soon I will satisfy, When she bears my son.

I have learned to speak of happiness, But to be happy I have not learned.

Chinese son, British student, Ten years, I observed another country.

Today, I am home.

Fond memories!

Nannan is in my gray and faded childhood.

Nannan was the only fond memory.

How fortunate is my brother!

What a complete family!

MINSHEN enters the wedding scene. Shock registers on his face. He soon realizes that a wedding is taking place and that his brother has taken on a second wife.

Go away, jealousy.

Quickly, go away!

I hereby welcome my new sister.

To this broken, yet hopeful family.

My name is Nannan.

Act 1, scene 2

Two months later.

NANNAN is sitting in her bedroom amongst the finest gardens she has taken care of for four years. MINSHEN is wondering in her gardens.

Nannan:

That sound I hear sometimes It’s not a voice, It sounds like a noise, Like the maples in a breeze, Like the thunder in a distance, A heartbeat?

Can it ever be a heartbeat?

Do you hear that?

Do you hear that?

Page 2 of 4 Happiness will be fulfilled.

Minshen:

Nannan:

Minshen:

I do not hear.

I hear only the whisper Of your heart Your frightened heart.

Your uncertain breath.

Lumei:

Do you hear that?

Do you hear my frightened heart?

Do you hear my uncertain breath?

Was it really me?

Am I truly barren?

Sister is the most caring, Sister is the most knowledgeable, It is my fortune to have you near my son.

Sister must take good care, Because the slim shadow tells of bitter tales

Nannan:

I hear only the rain, Crashing your heart.

Deep I hear.

Such kindness, Such thoughtfulness, Joyous for Master!

The MASTER enters with great joy.

Nannan:

Was it really me?

Am I really childless?

My unanswered prayer, do you hear?

Minshen:

I hear only the rain, Falling hard on the eaves, Maybe one frightened bird

Nannan:

Minshen:

LUMEI paces around NANNAN, step by step in a circle.

I tell you I hear something, Something approaches.

Bad news has a way of out-running the rain!

Master:

Nannan, my chosen wife, governor of my estate, It is your duty that Lumei is fully provided!

Nannan:

So I understand.

Lumei:

Lumei is grateful to Master!

Nonetheless, I fear the construction will disturb my baby. (to Nannan) Sister must have another proposition.

Nannan:

(Interrupts) Certainly!

May I suggest Madam Lumei move here.

The brightest rooms, The finest gardens.

Lumei:

Such kindness!

Such thoughtfulness!

It is my fortune!

It is my fortune!

I hear only the rain.

I hear nothing.

There is a great commotion outside. LUMEI has returned home and is jubilant. There are shouts of joy from the MASTER and all the servants in the house.

Maid:

(Shouting from off stage.) Lumei is pregnant!

(Running onto the stage.) Nannan! Madam Lumei is with child!

NANNAN froze. MINSHEN step by step backs out of her room.

Music changes tempo when LUMEI enters, filled with something else besides joy.

Lumei:

Greetings to my sister.

Sister must have heard the good news?

Nannan:

It must be joyous for Master.

Lumei:

Sister is the most caring, Sister is the most knowledgeable, It is my fortune to have you near my pregnancy.

Sister must take good care, Because the pale face tells of sleepless nights.

Nannan:

Such kindness!

Such thoughtfulness!

What a blissful day that Lumei is with child!

Lumei, mother of my son, I will have your chambers expended, immediately!

My son is not to be born in that cubicle of yours.

LUMEI and MASTER hand in hand, exit with great joy.

Hesitated, MINSHEN follows them and also exits. But he does it hesitantly. NANNAN remains on the stage.

Nannan:

I am truly barren.

NANNAN collapses onto her chair on the last beat of music.

Curtain falls

Page 3 of 4 Act II, Scene 3

Minshen:

Silly worries, Nannan.

No fate can foil our love.

Are you not happy, my love?

Nannan:

I have learned to speak of happiness But to be happy I have not leant.

I curse my childlessness!

I curse my barren womb!

Minshen:

Silly worries, Nannan.

No ills can choke our love.

Nannan:

(Interrupts) Answer me, Minshen What is future without family?

What is family without children?

Minshen:

What is life without love?

Nannan:

Love?

Love is always the charming word from you, Love is merely poetry without a family.

You have confused love with sympathy, haven’t you?

Minshen:

Silly worries, Nannan.

Love feels no burden Love thinks nothing of trouble, Love pleads no excuse of impossibility.

Do you not believe my love is real?

Nannan:

Then, marry me!

Marry me now!

Minshen:

This is not what I intended.

Nannan:

If Love feels no burden, marry me.

I will not add to your worries.

NANNAN and MINSHEN on the boat to London. They stand in their cabin watching their homeland recede in the distance.

Nannan & Minshen:

The water between Deeper as we go There in the distance The land we once called home (Nannan) A home I once called my own.

The water between Deeper as we go Here aboard this ship We as common man Drifting towards a world of unknown (Nannan) A world I must call home A home I must call my own.

There is a knock on the door Ship Steward:

Room service!

MINSHEN opens the door Pillows for two, and chocolate for the newly weds Mr. and Mrs… Minshen:

(interrupts) Nothing of that kind! We are not husband and wife.

NANNAN is shocked Ship Steward:

My apologies, Sir! If there is anything else you need Sir…

Minshen:

(interrupts again) Certainly! Now leave us.

Nannan:

Must it be known to all that I am not your wife?

Minshen:

(Ignores Nannan) Future is what I call a “work-in-progress” Possibilities await the prepared Life rewards the perseverant.

Nannan, this is a future for both of us.

Minshen:

Nannan, you alone cure my worries.

Nannan:

(ignores Minshen) If Love thinks nothing of trouble, marry me.

Let it known to all that we are husband and wife.

Nannan:

(a bit annoyed) Must it be known to all that I am not your wife?

Minshen:

What is it you try to prove?

Minshen:

Silly worries, Nannan.

Nothing harms our love for each other.

When I hold you tight I hear your sweet gentle lips nibbling at my ear.

Nannan:

If Love pleads no excuse of impossibility, marry me!

Even though I cannot provide you with a child.

Minshen:

Nannan, you are a lovely lady.

But love and marriage are different issues.

Nannan:

(agitated) How, Minshen? Explain to me!

Minshen:

Nannan, this comes too suddenly.

Nannan:

Why, Minshen? Why? Give me a reason! Why?

Minshen:

There is not a reason for everything, Nannan.

Nannan:

Is your love merely poetry?

Where is future without family?

Where is family without children?

Like gambling it is.

The future is the beginning of my end.

Page 4 of 4 Nannan:

Why? Why? Why? Is it love or sympathy? I deserve to know!

Minshen:

Like there is not a reason for your barrenness.

Nannan:

Why? Why? Why?... I deserve an answer!

Minshen:

Never!

I will never marry a barren woman!

Steward:

It is not so easy to fall off this ship, Sir! Someone must have lost the will to live.

Someone must be heart-broken.

Minshen:

Perhaps suicide?

How fragile life can be!

Life must begin before it ends.

Life must harbor the broken hearted Life must go on for Nannan!

Nannan will stand up to her brutal fate!

No more sugar-coated love of mine.

I must help her!

Right here, right now!

MINSHEN walks out of the room, and slams the door.

Nannan:

All that you hear are my sweet gentle lips Nibbling at your ear.

But the gnawing at my heart, You do not hear.

NANNAN slowly walks towards the back of the stage, which resembles the edge of the ship.

Minshen:

(at the front of the stage) My heart is trembling!

She provokes me!

I was provoked to have said that terrible thing!

Perhaps she is right.

I do not love her enough to marry her.

Perhaps sympathy is what it is.

MINSHEN runs into the SHIP STEWARD on the other side of the stage.

Steward:

Good evening, Sir? Ah, you are that gentleman upstairs with the beautiful young lady.

Minshen:

Good evening and good memory!

She is beyond beautiful.

Keep in mind, Beauty never out-lasts a woman’s virtue.

Steward:

Neither does it a woman’s child.

I’m a proud father of three…

As MINSHEN and the STEWARD kept on chatting, NANNAN is near the edge of the ship at the other side of the stage. She jumps off the ship and kills herself as the audience witnesses.

A Tenor Voice : (shouting

from off stage.)

Someone fell off the boat! Help!!

Someone just fell off the boat!!!

Steward:

How unfortunate!

Minshen:

Unbelievable!

How can such terrible accident happen?

How heedless people can be!

MINSHEN quickly run back to look for NANNAN. The steward exits. In their room, NANNAN is nowhere to be found.

Minshen:

Nannan, I came back to apologize.

Nannan? Where are you?

Nannan? Nannan?

The curtain quickly descends on the last note of the music. End of the opera.