| Operas by Jake Heggie |
|---|
|
Dead Man Walking (2000) |
Last Acts is a chamber opera in two acts by Jake Heggie to a libretto by Gene Scheer which is based on the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Terrence McNally. It premiered on 29 February 2008 at the Houston Grand Opera (HGO), which commissioned the work in association with the San Francisco Opera and Cal Performances.
Last Acts was the working title; future performances will be under the title Three Decembers. It was performed under that title at The San Francisco Opera in December 2008.[1]
The three parts of the opera are set in the month of December in the years 1986, 1996 and 2006.
From the HGO press release: "Last Acts is the story of a famous actress, Madeline, and her two adult children as they struggle to know and love each other. It is the universal story about the family we wish for and the family we wind up with."
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 29 February 2008 Conductor: Patrick Summers |
|---|---|---|
| Madeline (Maddie), a famous actress |
mezzo-soprano | Frederica von Stade |
| Charlie, Madeline's son |
baritone | Keith Phares |
| Beatrice (Bea), Madeline's daughter |
soprano | Kristin Clayton |
| Pianists | Patrick Summers Jake Heggie |
|
| Director/Scenic Designer | Leonard Foglia | |
| Lighting Designer | Brian Nason | |
| Lighting design | Cesar Galindo | |