Dialogues of the Carmelites Set for 2026 Hillman Opera at SUNY Fredonia
The Hillman Memorial Music Association and the Fredonia College of Music, Theatre, and Dance will present Francis Poulenc’s twentieth-century operatic masterpiece “Dialogues of the Carmelites” on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry A. King Concert Hall of Rockefeller Arts Center.
Set in Paris during the French Revolution’s “Reign of Terror,” the story follows a young aristocrat seeking peace in a convent who faces sacrifice and spiritual strength. The production’s finale is considered one of the most powerful in the world of opera. The performance will be presented in French with English supertitles.
Faculty and Students Lead Hillman Opera Production
Associate Professor Don Marrazzo serves as producer for the Hillman Opera production. Dr. Emily Schaad is the music director and conductor, while SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Paul Mockovak directs the stage.
Four graduate students pursuing master’s degrees in Music Performance fill the principal student roles. Gabrielle Gance of Binghamton, NY, stars as Blanche de la Force. Andrew George of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, performs as Chevalier de la Force. Amie Adams of Hamburg, NY, appears as Madame Lidoine, and Kayla Sorensen of Glenwood, NY, performs as Mère Marie.
The undergraduate cast features Zechariah Beckett as the Marquis de la Force, Hudson Smith as L’Aumônier, Lindsay Haner as Sœur Constance, Margaret Shafer as Mère Jeanne, and Mia O’Malley as Sœur Mathilde. Additional cast members include Chris Dow as Thierry, Dakota Morrison as Dr. Javelinot, Zachary Formhals as the First Commissioner, Sean Mahon as the Second Commissioner and First Officer, and Jude Chiarella as the Jailor. Miranda Wilcox serves as the Madame de Croissy cover, and Ava Hartung covers the role of Blanche de la Force.
Tickets Available Online, by Phone or in Person
Tickets are available online 24/7. Buyers may also purchase tickets on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday by phone at (716) 673-3501 or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office inside the Williams Center during office hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The production receives support from SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus Julie Newell, Hillman Opera Patrons, and Friends of the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center through the Fredonia College Foundation. The presentation forms part of the 2026-27 Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union season.
Separately, the Hillman Opera season also includes Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul,” directed by Daniel Lendzian with music direction by conductor Emily Schaad. Set around an enigmatic consulate, the Pulitzer Prize-winning work portrays a family’s attempt to escape totalitarian rule amid indifferent bureaucracy.