Opera Bites: "Thais" tells story of an exotic rescue

The next high-definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera will be Jules Massenet's romantic opera "Thais" at 11 a.m. Saturday at Town Plaza Cinema. The encore broadcast will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 7.

Renne Fleming will sing the title role and the part of the monk Athanael will be sung by Thomas Hampson. Thais takes place in Egypt in the late fourth century A.D. This is one of Massenet's most perfumed and exotic operas, and it tells the story of a prostitute saved by a monk.

Act I begins with the return of Athanael to his monastery; he has been in the city of Alexandria and, having seen Thais, is intent upon saving her soul. When he falls asleep, he dreams of the beautiful courtesan and upon awakening, decides to go back to the city to see her. When he arrives, he goes to the house of his friend Nicias. Nicias is throwing a party and invites the monk to join in the festivities. The party begins, Athanael and Thais meet and she invites him to become one of her lovers; he is horrified and rushes out of the house.

In Act II, Thais is at home. She ponders her empty soul and then looks into her mirror, imploring it to tell her that she will be young forever. Ahthanael shows up and tries to convince her to change her way of life, but she just laughs at him. Her laugh, however, dissolves into tears and the act ends with the music of the beautiful "Meditation."

In the second scene of this act Thais comes out of her house and confronts the monk. She tells him she is ready to seek salvation. When the crowd finds out that their favorite no longer belongs to them but to God, they are enraged. Nicias's house catches on fire as Thais and Athanael make their escape from the city.

The final act begins in an oasis. Thais and Athanael enter. She is exhausted and cannot stand up as her feet are bleeding. When the monk goes in search of food and water, Thais praises God, then goes off into the desert to live with a group of nuns. Athanael cannot forget her. He, too, runs off into the desert. Thais, who is living in the convent, feels blessed by God as she dies. Athanael is left behind, tormented and lost.

There have been many sopranos who have undertaken the role of Thais — it is a fabulous vehicle for a singer, and Rene Fleming is the perfect soprano for this glamorous and difficult part.

Barb Herbert of Cape Girardeau is an opera lover and host of Southeast Public Radio's "Sunday Night at the Opera."