Journey: Lynchburg church stages opera ‘The Pilgrim’

By Casey Gillis

Published: March 28, 2008

Peggy Howell hit the road when putting the cast together for “The Pilgrim,” a church opera that will be performed at St. John’s Episcopal Church next weekend.

Performances of the opera, which was adapted from three 12th century Easter plays and two poems by Christina Rosetti, are at 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 6. 

After Howell decided to do “The Pilgrim,” she went to see singers Philip and Tara Bouknight when they performed in Roanoke last spring. “I went to see if they were the right voices for my production, and they’re both fabulous,” says Howell, St. John’s organist.

Soon after, she found another guest artist when Chris Swanson sang at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynchburg. After his performance, Howell brought Swanson to St. John’s.

“I sort of kidnapped him, and said, ‘Do you want to come see my church?’”

The rest of the cast came together from there, with well-known local singers like Randolph College professor Randy Speer and soloists Kris Martin-Baker, Michelle Ellinwood and Joshua Bell joining the production. E.C. Glass teacher Tom Harris is directing, and Howell will conduct the 15-piece chamber orchestra. A handbell choir will also accompany the songs.

This isn’t Howell’s first time working on the opera. She saw its premiere at the National Convention of Organists in Seattle in 1978.

“I was so moved by it and wanted to do it,” says Howell, who was organist at a church in Richmond at the time.

She contacted the composer, Richard Proulx, about it, and her church performed “The Pilgrim” in 1979, the opera’s East Coast premiere.

“I always loved the piece and thought about (doing) it (at St. John’s) from time to time,” Howell says. “But it never worked out.”

Until now.

Because Easter came so early this year, Howell thought it would be the perfect time to put together a production of the “The Pilgrim.”

It tells the story of three women — Mary Magdalene, Mary Jacobi and Mary Salome — going to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning. Upon arriving at the tomb, they are met by an angel who tells them Jesus is not there, but is alive. After two of the women leave to tell the disciples about Jesus, he reveals himself to Mary Magdalene.

At the end of the play, the entire congregation is invited to join in on the final hymn, a Gregorian chant.

Howell says the production mixes contemporary music with the chants.

“When Jesus sings, he sings in Gregorian chants,” she says. “It’s very interesting to go back and forth. It’s very beautiful. I think it’s wonderful music.”

Because the play is based on medieval texts, Howell is staging it as such. She has incorporated stylized action into the actors’ movement on stage, taking gestures and poses from paintings, woodcarvings and sculptures.

“We looked at a lot of drawings,” Howell says. “We did this in the style that you would do a medieval drama.”

If you’re going
WHAT: The Pilgrim
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 6
WHERE: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 200 Boston Ave.
TICKETS: $25 for reserved seats and $12 general admission
INFO: (434) 528-1138