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Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 7, 2022 Maldonian stars in Britten’s ‘The Prodigal Son’ at Boston’s Cathedral Theatre T he Boston- and U.K.-based Enigma Chamber Opera continues its exploration of chamber works by Benjamin Britten with two performances of the English composer’s biblically inspired 1968 opera “The Prodigal Son.” The work is the third of Britten’s three Parables for Church Performance; Enigma mounted the first, “Curlew River,” to critical acclaim last fall. This new production is directed by Artistic Director Kirsten Z. Cairns, who finds in the universal story of parent/child reconciliation and forgiveness a balm for an often bitterly divided society. Performances are Oct. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. at Boston’s Cathedral Church of St. Paul. This production will be available for streaming on the Enigma Chamber Opera YouTube page for one week starting Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. Maldonian Omar Najmi is a tenor and portrays the Tempter/Abbott. Najmi has a robust resume in the Boston area and holds a Master of Music from Boston University. “The Prodigal Son” libretto is THE PFANNENSTIEHL CASE advisable from time to time, whether in equal or unequal shares, to provide for the comfortable support, health, maintenance, welfare and education of each of the members of such class.” The trust also stated that T he Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts unanimously overturned a lower court decision that had ordered the assets in an irrevocable discretionary trust created by the husband’s father to be split in a divorce proceeding. This was decided on August 8, 2016. This SJC decision upholds the use of trusts to shelter assets for future generations. Up until their separation, the couple depended on distributions from a trust created by the husband’s father for the husband’s benefit as well as his siblings and their children. At the time of the divorce proceeding, the trust had assets of approximately $25million and there were 11 beneficiaries. The Trial Court judge ruled against the husband and ordered 60% of the husband’s one eleventh trust share to be paid to his wife. The husband appealed to the Court of Appeals but lost in a split decision. The trust stated “the trustees shall pay to, or apply for the benefit of, a class composed of any one or more of the Donor’s then living issue such amounts of income and principal as the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may deem distributions are within the sole discretion of the trustees as they may deem advisable from time to time and that they shall provide for the comfortable support, health, maintenance, welfare and education of the beneficiaries. This is known as the “ascertainable standard.” The trust also contained a spendthrift provision. “Neither the principal nor income of any trust created hereunder shall be subject to alienation, pledge, assignment or other anticipation by the person for whom the same is intended, nor to attachment, execution, garnishment or other seizure under any legal, equitable or other process.” The SJC found that since the Trustees have total discretion whether or not to make distributions on the husband’s behalf means that he has an uncertain “expectancy” for which, under Mass divorce law, a different standard is applied to splitting assets among the two spouses. If you are genuinely concerned about the possibility of your child getting divorced in the future, or of being sued by a creditor, then such provisions in your trust could be inserted. You can even substitute the word “may” instead of “shall” on the part of Trustee distributions to offer even more protection. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. by William Plomer, based on a Christian parable told by Jesus to his disciples in the Gospel of Luke 15. Its story centers on two sons of a farmer: The older son is a hardworking laborer who tends to the family business; the younger has reckless ways – leaving with his inheritance and then squandering it in a far-off city. Destitute and defeated, the younger son returns home, begging his father to take him back. Cairns says the familial reconciliation in the opera resonated for her but not in the typical way. “Often with this story we are meant to identify with the Younger Son or the Elder Son,” Cairns said. “I found myself wondering if we ought to identify with the Father. I am struck by the biblical line, ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.’” Cairns continued, “Last year, in Curlew River we explored the idea that even in your darkest, most desperate days, you will find people who will walk with you, or stand by you; there will be comfort. This year our story seems to tell us we must be the people who stand by those in need. Don’t wait for them to come to you; run out to greet them and throw your arms around them – that is the Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced Omar Najmi (Photo courtesy of JMKPR) love we need to embody in this world.” Production concept: As in Enigma’s mounting of “Curlew River” last fall, “The Prodigal Son” is framed as a spontaneous performance by members of a fraternal community. Cairns leaves the circumstances of the performers’ all-male gathering purposefully vague. (Is it a church group, a recovery meeting, or something else?) But she says the concept was inspired by the welcoming and forgiveness that people can find in a church or other supportive community. Britten’s work has been central to Enigma’s nascent production history. Cairns directed the company’s debut production – a highly regarded production of Britten’s supernatural opera “The Turn of the Screw” – in January 2020. Her direction in November 2021 of “Curlew River” drew capacity audiences as well as critical raves for “uniformly superb” voices, “astonishingly precise” playing, a “powerful” and “transcendent” production and “the best opera production I saw last year.” Enigma will complete the Britten trilogy with a production of “Burning Fiery Furnace” in October 2023. Cast and artistic team: “The Prodigal Son” features seven writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call begins a look at the ballot questions that will be on the November ballot for voter consideration. BALLOT QUESTION #1 - INCOME TAX HIKE FOR TAXPAYERS EARNING MORE THAN $1 MILLION PER YEAR – The first question on the Novemmale singers portraying the gathered men who bookend the main story and characters in that story. Performers are Omar Najmi as the Tempter/Abbott, Aaron Engebreth as the Father, David McFerrin as the Elder Son, Matthew DiBattista as the Younger Son; Paul Soper, Tom Oesterling and Daniel Fridley are chorus members playing servants, beggars and other characters. The performance also features the voices of a small children’s choir. The Stage Director is Cairns. Music Director Edward Elwyn Jones (also Music Director of Harvard Memorial Church) leads the eight-piece orchestra and plays organ. Lighting design is by Paul Marr. Rebecca Shannon Butler is the costume designer. Projection design is by Peter Torpey. The orchestra includes the following: flute, Aimee Toner; trumpet, Ryan Noe; horn, Emma Staudacher; viola, Emily Rome; double bass, Daniel Gorn; harp, Angelina Savoia; and percussion, Mike Williams. Tickets: General admission tickets for “The Prodigal Son” are $30; $20 for students and seniors. Tickets are available Fri., Oct. 1 via EnigmaChamberOpera.org or EventBrite. ber ballot asks voters if they favor a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow a graduated income tax in Massachusetts and impose an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the current flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. Language in the amendment requires that “subject to appropriation” the revenue will go to fund quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation. The proposal is sponsored by Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) and Rep. James O’Day (D-West Boylston). It qualified to get on the November balBHRC | SEE PAGE 15

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