Synopsis
Zerubbabel, weapons bearer to Israelite King Saul, enters Saul’s tent lugging home gear from a just-finished battle. As he prepares for Saul’s impending arrival by stowing the gear and making ready for a meal, Zerubbabel frets over Saul’s increasingly troubled state of mind and growing antagonism toward David, his son-in-law and lieutenant. Zerubbabel traces the beginnings of Saul’s torment to his sparing the life of the Amalekite King Agag against instructions by the prophet Samuel. Saul enters, brooding, along with Hannagail, a chorus no one can see but only Saul can hear. Zerubbabel’s attempts to raise Saul’s spirits are foiled by Hannagail, who torments Saul with bleak caricatures of his thoughts and bright encomia about David. Saul vacillates between his rage at and love for David, finally sending Zerubbabel to fetch David in the hope that David can sing Saul’s troubles away. David arrives and sings Saul’s favorite song but fails to change Saul’s mood. Saul’s son Jonathan comes in, singing a snippet from David’s song, and is so overjoyed at seeing David he momentarily forgets to acknowledge his father, a slight that feeds Saul’s growing sense of betrayal. After returning Jonathan’s affection, David sings several songs to the delight of everyone except Saul, who grows increasingly angry at David, egged on by the taunting of Hannagail. Despite David’s pledges and pleadings of love and loyalty, Saul accuses David of treachery, declares him a mortal enemy, and chases him from the tent. Hannagail utters a grim prophecy and follows David. Saul abruptly turns his attention to dinner but Jonathan, upset, has no appetite. Jonathan tries to change Saul’s mind about David but Hannagail’s departure convinces Saul he is right. Jonathan’s entreaties merely cause Saul to suspect Jonathan’s loyalty. Saul angrily chases Jonathan away. Act I ends with Saul, now by himself, bitterly reflecting on his fate.
Cast
- Saul: Peter Ludwig
- David: Michael Ashby
- Zerubbabel: Charles Schneider
- Jonathan: Justin Johnson
- Hannagail: Bethan Reeves, Adrienne Alexander, Patrice Jegou
- Pianist: Cristina Pato
Recording
Production: The Mason Gross School of the Arts and the Department of Music, Rutgers University. Presented in concert form by the Rutgers Opera Workshop, directed by Judith Nicosia (Friday, December 15, 2006).