Opera Scotland

Three Decembers

Tours by decade

Tours by location

Music

Jake Heggie (Born Wst Palm Bech Florida, 31 March 1961)

Text

Gene Scheer

Source

Based on Some Christmas Letters, a script by Terrence McNally

 

Premieres

First Performance: Houston (Grand Opera), 29 February 2008.

First Performance in UK: Glasgow (Alexander Gibson Opera Studio), 28 October 2023.

First Performance in Scotland: As above.

 

Background

A chamber opera for three characters.  A 90-minute dramatization of correspondence between a mother and her two adult children, it covers three Christmasses ten years apart - 1986, 1996 and 2006.  It covers aspects of the AIDS epidemic and its affect on the trio.

It is available in arrangements for chamber ensemble or for two pianos.

 

Characters

Madeline (Maddie), a successful actress (mezzo-soprano)

Beatrice (Bea), her daughter (soprano)

Charlie, her son (baritone)