Travis V. McGonigle - The Barber Of Paducah - Act I, Scene 2

After a lot of hemming, hawing, wrangling, and coaxing, Act I Scene 2 of McGonigle's opera The Barber Of Paducah has been recorded! The composer's health has become more  robust, and he's determined to see the project to it's conclusion. What has been recorded are the composer's wishes, as it should be. he's been adamant about what he wants. He does listen to the new conductor that has come onto the project, especially about advice towards orchestration. He's one of the few who are involved with the project to have the composer's ear and it has been to the betterment of the progress so far. They've begun work on Scene 3, which will complete the 1st act, a real milestone! The libretto for Scene 2 is available here.

Scene 2 is set in Louisa's flower shop on the other side of town. As she starts her workday on a bright spring morning, she sings to help pass the time. We hear the first of another barber across town, Vic,  that has feelings for her, but her interest is beginning to be taken up with Luigi, whose shop is just a ways up the street from her shop.

Louisa's aria

She hears a commotion outside of the shop and notices a group of older ladies having a heated discussion. 

Gossiping women outside the shop- Interlude

  Among them is her Aunt Cora, who enters the shop and tells Louisa about the scuttlebutt concerning Luigi's barbershop. Aunt Cora has noticed Louisa and Luigi getting close, and wants to warn her of him.

Aunt Cora's aria 

Louisa's aunt tells Louisa what she's heard about Luigi, and she expresses her distrust of the Italian barber, and tells her she ought to give Vic a try, as he's a nice guy and not a 'foreigner'. Finally, Aunt Cora asks her if she has to be hit with a brick in the head to get the message!  An example of McGonigle's plain language use, along with ethnic slur of 'dago', that portrays the common language of the time

Louisa's answer to Aunt Cora - 

Louisa shows patience and understanding towards her aunt, whose husband has left her. The aria shows the affection Louisa has for her aunt, who has been like a mother to her.