The opera opens with a bishop, accompanied by his mother and two nuns, along with many other pilgrims, taking a voyage to a monastery. A fisherman on board the ship informs the bishop that three "holy men" inhabit a nearby island. The bishop decides to visit them and inquire how they serve God. When the bishop rows to the island, the hermits speak very little to him but share their humble prayer, "Three are Ye, three are we, have mercy on us!"  The kind bishop believes their understanding of prayer to be insufficient, and after many hours on the island, he painstakingly teaches them the Lord's Prayer. Content that he has improved their awareness to serve God better, the bishop returns to the ship. On their voyage later that evening, the pilgrims are astonished to see the hermits running on the water, attempting to catch the boat. The dumbfounded bishop listens as the hermits confess that they have already forgotten the prayer he taught them. Deeply moved, he bows to the hermits and reverently sends them on their way, telling them that "Your own prayer is loved by God…pray for us, you holy ones.”

The Paulus score provides an abundance of solo and ensemble opportunities for eleven singers in lyrical and recitative-like presentations, with an extractable aria for the tenor role of the Fisherman that would prove excellent for future auditions. In the mother and nun roles and the often comedic lines of the three hermits, Paulus poignantly interchanges solo passages and ensemble singing that is both challenging to the ear but wonderfully fulfilling as the harmonies lock in. The additional utilization of a school or church choir is critical to voicing the cries for mercy, culminating in the powerful "Pilgrim's Hymn" at the musical and emotional crux of the opera. For our production, we made prayer book properties for the chorus containing their music, providing a way to involve them on stage with a bit less rehearsal - but which placed them on the ship to proclaim in worship, "Even before we call on Your name . . . You hear our prayer. Unceasing love . . . surpassing all we know."

Paulus' work features accessible music scored for chamber orchestra and an excellent balance of male and female principal roles. However, the greatest audience takeaways are found in the profound messages that stay with you as you depart the theater: that spiritual inspiration and faithfulness can come from unexpected places and people, and we can learn valuable insights if we humble ourselves and listen. The Three Hermits is a magnificently simple yet poignant work, and I consider myself privileged to have experienced its richness.

Dr. Keith Brautigam

A national and international performer and vocal pedagogue, Dr. Keith Brautigam’s credits range from numerous performances on the concert and opera stage to utilizing his expertise in vocal training at universities, choral organizations, and opera apprenticeship programs throughout the USA and abroad. 

In the spring of 2022, Dr. Brautigam retired as full professor from the voice faculty of Indiana Wesleyan University. Having been twice tenured during his career, he previously served on the faculties of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI (tenured); the Baldwin-Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Berea, OH (tenured), where he served as chair of the voice department; Moody Bible Institute in Chicago; and Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana.  Presently, he serves as the Director of Education for Heartland Sings, a non-profit vocal production company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he coordinates all outreach and educational programming, and additionally teaches/coaches the professional principal vocal artists for the company.