Lizzie Borden (opera)
Lizzie Borden is an opera written by American composer Jack Beeson. It is based on the real-life case of Lizzie Borden and was commissioned by the Ford Foundation.
It was premiered on March 25, 1965, by the New York City Opera conducted by Anton Coppola. The libretto is by Kenward Elmslie after a scenario by Richard Plant. The roughly two-hour opera is in three acts and an epilogue.[1][2][3]
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, March 25, 1965 (Conductor: – Anton Coppola) |
|---|---|---|
| Lizzie Borden | mezzo-soprano | Brenda Lewis |
| Margret Borden, Lizzie's sister | soprano | Anne Elgar |
| Captain Jason MacFarlane, Margret's love interest | baritone | Richard Fredricks |
| Abigail Borden, the stepmother | soprano | Ellen Faull |
| Andrew Borden. Lizzie's father | baritone | Herbert Beattie |
| Reverend Harrington | tenor | Richard Krause |
Synopsis
The plot is a dramatic retelling of the famed double axe murders of the stepmother and the father of the title character in Fall River, Massachusetts. However a great number of dramatic changes are made for effectiveness on the stage.
References
- Time {When accessed on April 12, 2020, this link was no longer active}
- Kozinn, Allan (March 8, 1999). "OPERA REVIEW; Deeper Look Into the Tale Of a Daughter And an Ax". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- Myers, Eric (December 2013). "BEESON: Lizzie Borden". Opera News. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
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