Four Saints in Three Acts is an opera composed in 1928 by Virgil Thomson, setting a libretto written in 1927 by Gertrude Stein. It contains about 20 saints and is in at least four acts. It was groundbreaking in form, content, and for its all-black cast, with singers directed by Eva Jessye, a prominent black choral director, and supported by her choir. Thomson suggested the topic, and the libretto as delivered can be read in Stein's collected works. The opera features two 16th-century Spanish saints—the former mercenary Ignatius of Loyola and the mystic Teresa of Avila—as well as their colleagues, real and imagined: St. Plan, St. Settlement, St. Plot, St. Chavez, etc. Thomson decided to divide St. Teresa's role between two singers, "St. Teresa I" and "St. Teresa II", and added the master and mistress of ceremonies (Compère and Commère—literally, the "godparents") to sing Stein's stage directions. Synopsis After the chorus sings a prelude, the first act takes place at the Ávila cathedral; it is titled "St. Teresa half indoors and half out of doors". Act two, "Might it be mountains if it were not Barcelona", involves a telescope and glimpses of a heavenly mansion. Act three, "St. Ignatius and one of two literally" is a picnic and contains Ignatius' famous aria "Pigeons on the grass alas". It ends with a tango-like ballet. The brief fourth act ("The sisters and saints reassembled and re-enacting why they went away to stay") is set at the garden of a monastery. Before the curtain falls the Compère announces "Last act", and the chorus replies "Which is a fact". Cast The cast of the original production included: Edward Matthews as "St Ignatius" (baritone) Beatrice Robinson-Wayne as "St Teresa I" (soprano) Bruce Howard as "St Teresa II" (contralto) Embry Bonner as "St. Chavez" (tenor) Bertha Fitzhugh Baker as "St. Settlement" (soprano) Randolph Robinson as "St. Plan" Abner Dorsey as "the Compère" (bass) Altonnell Hines as "the Commere" (mezzo) Ruby Greene Inez Matthews (Edward Matthews' sister) Charles Holland The Eva Jessye Choir, led by Eva Jessye Productions After its premiere February 7, 1934, at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, Four Saints in Three Acts opened on Broadway at the 44th Street Theatre February 20, 1934. The opera was notable in defying many traditional aspects of opera. Stein's libretto focused more on an affinity for the sounds of words than on presenting a narrative. Thomson's music