Lizzie Borden (opera)

Lizzie Borden is the sixth and best known opera by American composer Jack Beeson, commissioned by the Ford Foundation. The libretto by Kenward Elmslie after a scenario by Richard Plant is based on the real-life case of Lizzie Borden.

It was premiered on March 25, 1965, by the New York City Opera conducted by Anton Coppola and subsequently released on record.[1] The roughly two-hour opera is in three acts and an epilogue and is published by Boosey & Hawkes.[2] [3][4][5]

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

  1. ^ first on CRI, later New World Records #NWCR694
  2. ^ Online catalogue
  3. ^ [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,941033,00.html Opera: New Music, Old Legend, Time Magazine Apr. 02, 1965]
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Myers, Eric (December 2013). "BEESON: Lizzie Borden". Opera News. Retrieved April 12, 2020.


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