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North American Works Directory Listing
| Composer: |
Jack Beeson
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| Librettist: |
Kenward Elmslie
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| Other Artistic Personnel: |
Nikos Psacharopoulos (Director)
Anton Coppola (Conductor)
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| Original Cast: |
Brenda Lewis (Lizzie)
Anne Elgar (Margret)
Herbert Beattie (Andrew Borden)
Ellen Faull (Abigail Borden)
Richard Krause (Reverend Harrington)
Richard Fredericks (Captain Jason MacFarlane)
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| Premiere Date: |
March 25, 1965
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| Producing Company: |
New York City Opera
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| Description: |
Based on the infamous Fall River, MA crime of 1890, the opera tells the story of the town banker, Andrew Borden, and his second wife, Abbie, who were found hacked to death, and the daughter who became the main suspect. The opera begins at a church choir rehearsal, where Lizzie is asked to make a contribution in support of her church. Her father, the richest man in town, disrupts the rehearsal and embarrasses Lizzie. Later that night, Abbie persuades her husband to buy her a new piano and to eliminate any traces of his dead wife, Evangeline. A family quarrel ensues. Jason MacFarlane and the Reverend visit the Borden home, and Jason asks Andrew Borden for permission to marry his younger daughter, Margret. Andrew refuses, mocks him, and insists that if he wants to marry a daughter, it will be Lizzie. Jason and Margret make plans to elope. Lizzie puts on the wedding gown of her deceased mother. Overcome by the image she sees in her mirror, Lizzie fantasizes that Jason will return for her. Abbie catches Lizzie in Evangeline's wedding gown and she threatens to tell Andrew. Lizzie sits listlessly while Jason packs up Margret's belongings. Jason and Lizzie embrace and Jason leaves. Abbie orders Lizzie to set the table for dinner and goes upstairs for a nap. Lizzie, still in her mother's wedding gown, snatches a weapon from the wall. She is seen entering Abbie's bedroom. The gown is now stained with blood and Lizzie imagines herself a young bride. Andrew returns, and Lizzie follows her father upstairs.
Epilogue: Even though she has been acquitted of the crime, the congregation of her church refuses to accept Lizzie's previously-made contribution. The opera ends as children circle her house, mocking her. Lizzie lives out the rest of her life in her father's house.
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| Character List (Major): |
Andrew Borden(b-bar)
Abigail Borden(dcs)
Elizabeth Andrew Borden(mz)
Margret Borden(lyr s)
Reverend Harrington(t)
Captain Jason Macfarlane(lyr bar)
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| Reviews: |
The New York Times, Allen Hughes, 4-24-76; The New York Times, Theodore Strongin, 10-27-67; The New York Times, Theodore Strongin, 3-21-65
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| Chorus: |
Small Children's Chorus
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| Orchestration: |
2 fl(picc), 2 ob(Eng Hrn), 2 cl(bcl), 2 bsn - 2 hrn, 2 tpt, 2 tbn, 1 euph, 1 tba - timp, 2 perc(xyl, SD, small and large susp cym, tam-t, field dr, tamb, glsp, BD, TD, tgl) - harm - hp - str
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| Musical Style: |
Through-composed; modern and eclectic musical language; use of hymn tunes; some chromaticism with passages of atonality and tonality; expressive vocal lines
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| Contact: |
Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.
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| Address: |
229 W 28th Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10001
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| Phone: |
212-358-5300
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Schedule of Performances Listings
Lizzie Borden
( Beeson)
Saturday, March 06, 1999 - New York City Opera
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Lizzie Borden
( Beeson)
Friday, July 05, 1996 - Glimmerglass Festival
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What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
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