Today : world première of Jake Heggie's 'It's a Wonderful Life' in Houston

Today, the Houston Grand Opera presents the world première performance of Jake Heggie's new opera, It's a Wonderful Life, with a libretto by Gene Scheer based on Philip Van Doren's Stern's story The Greatest Gift, made famous bythe 1946 Frank Capra film.

Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer have already work together on several projects, including operas Three Decembers (Houston, 2008), Moby-Dick (Dallas, 2010), Out of Darkness (Seattle, 2016).

This timeless tale follows a troubled banker whose guardian angel helps us realize the lasting impact our lives can have on those around us. (reproduced from the HGO website)

The cast includes tenor William Burden (George Bailey), soprano Talise Trevigne (Clara), baritone Rod Gilfry (Henry F. Potter and Mr. Gower), soprano Andrea Carroll (Mary Hatch Bailey), baritone Joshua Hopkins (Harry Bailey) and tenor Anthony Dean Griffey (Uncle Billy). Patrick Summers conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Leonard Foglia directs.

The opera should last about 2 hours and  20 minutes, with one intermission.

Today : East Coast première of Jennifer Higdon's 'Cold Mountain' in Philadelphia

Today, Opera Philadelphia presents the East Coast première of Jennifer Higdon's Cold Mountain. The opera, with a libretto by Gene Scheer was first performed in Santa Fe on August 1st, 2015.

Jarett Ott (W.P. Inman) and Ada Monroe (Isabel Leonard), (c) Kelly &Massa

 

The libretto is based on the Charles Frazier novel.

Fatigued by the horrors of the Civil War, deserter W.P. Inman foots the arduous terrain of North Carolina toward home and the salve of his love, Ada Monroe, herself transformed by his absence. Once a Southern lady of privilege, Ada adapts to years of profound deprivation thanks to a resourceful new friend, Ruby. Inman’s odyssey home is plagued by not only the Home Guard’s marshals, but a more gruesome possibility: has the war’s violence withered his human capacity to love? And further, what truly makes a man a human ? (reproduced from the Opera Philadelphia website).

The cast is almost the same as in Santa Fe : baritone Jarett Ott (W.P. Inman, replacing Nathan Gunn), mezzo Isabel Leonard (Ada Monroe), mezzo Cecilia Hall (Ruby Thewes), tenor Jay Hunter Morris (Teague), bass Kevin Burdette (Stobrod), baritone Anthony Michaels-Moore (Reverend Monroe). Corrado Rovaris replaces Miguel Harth-Bedoya in the pit and Leonard Foglia directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

August 1st : world première of Jennifer Higdon's 'Cold Mountain' in Santa Fe

Today, Jennifer Higdon's first opera, Cold Mountain, with a libretto by Gene Scheer after Charles Frazier's novel, will be performed at the Santa Fe Opera Theater.

Jennifer Higdon has been working on the opera since 2009, and completed it in September 2013. It was originally commissioned by the San Francisco Opera, but several right issues postponed it for several years. In December 2012 and December 2013, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (where Higdon teaches) organized workshop performances of some excerpts.

The libretto tells the story of W. P. Inman, a wounded deserter from the Confederate army near the end of the American Civil War who walks for months to return to Ada Monroe, the love of his life. (reproduced from Wikipedia)

The cast includes Jay Hunter Morris (Teague), Nathan Gunn (Inman), Isabel Leonard (Ada), Emily Fons (Ruby), Anthony Michaels-Moore (Monroe) and Kevin Burdette (Stobrod). Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducts and Leonard Foglia directs.

The opera will also be performed in Philadelphia in February 2016 and then at the North Carolina Opera during the 2017-2018 season. Ultimately, a recording of the New Mexico performances is to be published by Pentatone.