After 10 years, 'Noye's Fludde' returns as part of the Madeleine Festival Concert Series

Friday, Apr. 22, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Benjamin Britten “Noye’s Fludde” is a creative one-act opera meant for a large cast of children and actors to perform in a story filled with music, interesting costumes, animals and much more. 

This year, it will be presented in three performances on two different dates in Salt Lake City so people can enjoy the 170 Madeleine Choir School students who will join Tyler Oliphant, Aubrey Adams-McMillan and Michael Aiello in the roles of Noye, Mrs. Noye and God.

The play recreates the story of great flood, told in the Book of Genesis. 

In addition to being part of the Madeleine Festival Concert series, the play is part of The Madeleine Choir School’s 20th-anniversary celebration, and all students in grades four through eight are taking part, said Melanie Malinka, the school’s director of music.

The students have been cast in roles of the many animals, Noye’s children, and a group of Mrs. Noye’s friends known as ”the gossips” in this play that Britten derived from the Chester Miracle Plays that began in the fifteenth century.

“‘Noye’s Fludde’ was the most popular of these plays and it was traditionally acted by the Drawers of Dee (water carriers),” Malinka said. “In it, Noye and his sons load up the provisions and the animals while his wife gossips with the neighbors. Noye urges her to hurry aboard: ‘The flood comes in fleeting fast; On every side it speadeth full fare; For fear of drowning I am aghast; Good gossip, let us draw near.’ But Noye’s wife keeps on drinking and gossiping until, eventually, the sons carry her onto the ark by force. At the end of the play, God provides a rainbow as a token that mankind has had enough punishment for its sinful deeds,” said Malinka, adding that The Madeleine Choir School is  “delighted to celebrate the Year of Mercy with this production by recounting this important covenant of mercy established between God and humanity.”

The students have been rehearsing their various roles for about three months; rehearsals have taken place outside because the school lacks space for such a large group to practice at one time.

Many organizations have been collaborating with the school to make “Noye’s Fludde” a reality.

“A Ballet West dancer is helping us with the choreography for the raven and the dove; Utah Opera is helping with our set, costumes, and props; and Children’s Dance Theater is as well helping with costumes and props,” Malinka said. “We are very grateful for these continued collaborations and for the support from these organizations.”

Parents also have been involved with all the preparations; for example, James Ohman has been helping to re-build the set, and others are sewing costumes.

Another highlight of this year’s play is that Oliphant and Adams-McMillan are reprising their roles as Noye and Mrs. Noye.

“It is thrilling that we are able to re-cast them. Both Oliphant and Adams-McMillan have performed regularly with the Cathedral Choir in liturgical service and our concert series. It is wonderful to have them back in these roles 10 years later,” said Malinka, adding that “Michael Aiello recently performed as a baritone soloist in our production of the Monteverdi Vespers, and he is perfectly suited as the voice of God for ‘Noye’s Fludde.’”

WHAT: ‘Noye’s Fludde’

WHEN: Friday, April 29, 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, 8 p.m.
  

For the morning performance on April 29, there will be general admission seating only (no passes required.)

For the two evening performances, reserved seating passes are available to MCS donors at $500 and above; contact Matt Kitterer, mkitterer@utmcs.org. In addition to the reserved seating, general admission seating will be available; no passes required.