CANBERRA Opera’s new Puccini production is not grand opera by any means; in contrast to last year’s “La Bohème”, “Suor Angelica” (Sister Angelica) is just under an hour long.

The second in Puccini’s 1918 triptych, “Il Trittico”, the opera is set in a convent of vague location and order. Opening with a sketch of the cloistered life, it turns into proper operatic drama when the unyielding Princess, an aunt, visits Sister Angelica to remind her of her sinful past in which she gave birth to an illegitimate son, and more, to prise her inheritance from her.

Needless to say (it is opera after all) the good sister comes to a sticky end, but not before Puccini has lifted her to grace in a heavenly vision or miracle equalled only by that in Gounod’s Faust.

Director Steph McAlister sees the company as providing “a platform” for singers who are “still growing, still learning”. With singers ranging in age from 16 to 60, she says, they’ve also been raising their profile through pro bono and corporate gigs including two concerts at the NGA. Democratically, they’ve written a small men’s chorus into the coming opera, though the basis is the female voice.

“Suor Angelica” looks like a perfect choice, though it presents challenges, I hear, as I meet the director, two of the singers and repetiteur Kathleen Loh at Charnwood Labor Club, where they are rehearsing.

“Puccini doesn’t tell us a great deal about the characters in this opera, and nothing about ‘the man’, so we’ve made up a backstory,” McAlister says, suggesting that Angelica might have been raped, abused or caught in the class system.

It will be giving away no dark secret to say that the tragic sister, played by soprano Kathryn Tisdell, will not die alone on stage, but will rather be surrounded by her fellow nuns and heavenly apparitions of the Virgin and the abandoned child, played by Tisdell’s real-life son.

Janene Broere gets the “the old-bag mezzo role” of the heartless princess, initially written for a contralto. She gets one fabulous aria, “Nel silenzio” and Broere prefers to think of her as cold rather than evil.

The chosen venue, Wesley Uniting Church, turns out to be a good space for opera. Conveniently, it has one of Canberra’s best pipe organs that will join the small orchestra to be conducted by Lizzie Collier and, because of the ecclesiastical setting, an elaborate set is not needed.

“Suor Angelica”, Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 8pm, July 15 and 22 and 3pm July 17 and 24. A supper or afternoon tea involving a short concert will follow each performance. Bookings to canberraopera.org.au