Last Acts
| Operas by Jake Heggie |
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Last Acts is a chamber opera in two acts by Jake Heggie to a libretto by Gene Scheer which is based on the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Terrence McNally. Created with a role for Frederica von Stade, the work premiered on 29 February 2008 at the Houston Grand Opera (HGO). It 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]
Plot
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."
Roles
| 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 | |
| Costume design | Cesar Galindo | |
References
- Blank, Matt (6 March 2008). "Photo Journal: Jake Heggie's Last Acts Premieres at Houston Grand Opera". Playbill. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- "Jake Heggie: Last Acts". Houston Grand Opera. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- Novosad, Christopher (23 February 2008). "Houston Grand Opera presents Jake Heggie's World Premiere". Broadway World. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ↑ "Three Decembers (Last Acts)". San Francisco Opera. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-31. (includes synopsis)