Musings: ‘Anám the Witch and Beatrice the Beautiful’

CLAUDIA NAVARRO JAMESON, BETA KAPPA, DALLAS ALUMNI

Children’s opera offers uplifting message of forgiveness

I was honored to write the libretto for La Bruja Anám y La

Bella Beatrice or Anám the Witch and Beatrice the Beautiful, a children’s opera composed by Mary Alice Rich that opened at Lakewood United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, this spring. The performance was very well received. The audience showed great enthusiasm, which encouraged continued promotion and additional performances to better expose children to the world of opera.

Mary Alice, a composer and violinist, decided to work on a children’s opera after a successful run of her opera Wading Home, based on a book by violinist Rosalyn Story. She wanted to focus on the Hispanic culture and was inspired by a Mexican folk tale her cousin introduced to her. The folk tale was not appropriate for children, however, as it contained very dark magic and the witch was of a truly evil nature.

After a brief meeting with Mary Alice, I agreed to write the libretto and she would put it to music. I was teaching bilingual kindergarten with the public school system and knew that adapting the folk tale to reflect a positive message of forgiveness and redemption would be more appropriate. I also made the witch character a much more compassionate person. Because of my many years of experience in musical theater and opera, the libretto included stage directions.

David Meija as King Renaldo; Jazmin Luevano as Beatrice; Roberto Reyna as Beto; and Claudia Navarro Jameson as Anám the witch

Anám the Witch and Beatrice the Beautiful was ready for Mary Alice, who then took my libretto and composed a score with a true Mexican feel along with a touch of South American flavor. The opera is just under 30 minutes long complete with overture, arias, recitative and a joyous quartet finale.

Susan Poelchau (Epsilon Pi, Dallas Alumni) agreed to be our accompanist and Walteria Caldwell (Alpha Xi), director of Diversitá Opera Arts Company, agreed to audition and cast the opera. Diversitá is the opera’s sponsor. We introduced the opera just over two years ago at a Mu Phi meeting and the attendees were very excited about it. We have had an additional performance and another is scheduled at a school in September.

Receiving the Mu Phi Epsilon Helen Haupt Grant will help us to stage more school performances and realize our goal of bringing opera to children. The story revolves around a poor brother and sister, Beto and Beatrice, whose parents have died; their neighbor, Anám, a healer who is believed to be a witch; and a handsome young king, Renaldo. Its message conveys that while conflict and ignorance can divide us, it is forgiveness and love that brings us together.

The cast of Anám with Susan Poelchau, Mary Alice Rich and Walteria Caldwell