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This 80-minute video is Act 2 from the Tostado Productions film of the world premiere production of Philip Westin's New American Opera, "Marie's Orchard." Soprano Shira Renee Thomas sings the role of Marie, Tenor Benjamin Bunsold sings the role of Emil, and Baritone Abdiel González sings the role of Marie's husband, Frank. Rounding out the principal roles are Baritone Jay Stephenson as Anthony and Soprano Adrien Roberts as Angelique. Brian Onderdonk conducts and Librettist Dylan F. Thomas directs the production that includes the Center Stage Opera Chorus and Orchestra.

Thomas's libretto for the opera, set in Nebraska in 1892, was inspired by the novel "O Pioneers!" by Willa Cather. Independent Filmmaker Alex D'Lerma captured the fully-staged production by Center Stage Opera that took place at the Los Angeles Madrid Theatre in June 2011.

ACT 2 SYNOPSIS
Emil secretly summons Anthony and Angelique into the orchard. Emil requests that they deliver a letter to Marie asking her to meet him in the orchard. Left alone, Emil sings of his feelings for Marie. Having received the letter, Marie enters the orchard and Emil confesses his love for her. Marie admits that she has feelings for him, but when Emil tells her that he loves her, she gets angry and defends her marriage. Emil decides it would be best for him to leave the county and they agree to write to each other in his absence.

Emil meets his friends at the local bar where he finds a celebration in full steam. Anthony tells him that he and Angelique are expecting their first baby. When Anthony asks Emil to be the baby's Godfather, Emil announces that he is leaving town the following morning. Frank enters the bar already drunk, and seeing Emil, becomes infuriated. Marie enters looking for Frank and tries to persuade him to go home with her. She tells him he's acting like a fool. In response, Frank slaps her across the face, enraging Emil. The two men brawl and the men in the bar throw Frank out into the street. Marie returns home to the Shabata farm alone and sings of her desire to be close to Emil.

Emil enters and they are overcome by their passion for each other. They kiss, and Marie seductively leads Emil into the orchard. Frank arrives home early and finds Marie gone. Drunk and angry, he sings about his desire to have an obedient wife. Suddenly, he sees Emil's hat on the porch and realizes Marie and Emil are together in the orchard. He works himself into a rage, and vows that he will take back his wife. As Marie and Emil are in the orchard slowly undressing each other and beginning to make love, Frank quietly enters and, seeing them together, is frozen in silence for a moment. Suddenly, without thinking, he takes action.

Please visit the "Marie's Orchard" web site:
www.MariesOrchard.com