Children of the Sun (Piano/Vocal Score) by Henry Mollicone Choir - Digital Sheet Music

Synopsis:
Children of the Sun is set in 16th-century Mexico, exploring the miraculous story of Juan Diego and his encounter with the Virgin Mary.

In 1525, a Conquistador Captain reflects on the brutal Spanish conquest of the Aztec kingdom, setting the stage for the unfolding events. In a convent, Mother Superior and the nuns prepare for the baptism of an Aztec peasant, Juan Diego. The Captain and Lord Bishop discuss their respective goals: one seeks gold, the other souls, but both crave glory. On his way to mass, Juan Diego hears a heavenly voice from the summit of Tepeyac Hill and encounters the Virgin Mary, who tells him to ask the Lord Bishop to build a shrine in her honor for the indigenous people. Juan Diego delivers the Virgin's message to the skeptical Lord Bishop, who demands a miracle as proof. Meanwhile, Juan’s elderly uncle is gravely ill, and two nuns inform him of his condition. The nuns gossip about Juan Diego’s vision of the Virgin, and Mother Superior scolds them, warning of God’s wrath for such behavior. Juan Diego visits his uncle, who asks him to find a priest. Desperate, Juan heads back to Tepeyac Hill. At Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary reassures Juan that his uncle has been healed. She instructs him to climb the hill and gather roses as proof of her miraculous power. As Juan climbs, Mother Superior spies on him. When Juan presents the roses to Lord Bishop, the miraculous image of the Virgin appears on his cloak, confirming the miracle. The Nuns and Mother Superior join in rejoicing as the Virgin’s message is fulfilled: the indigenous people, the "Children of the Sun," are restored to their rightful place. The opera ends with a celebration of the Virgin’s grace and the triumph of the conquered peoples, who are now invited to a divine glory.