JACK BEESON CENTENNIAL 2021

With the centennial anniversary of Jack Beeson’s birth unrolling in 2021, opera companies have a chance to dive into this legendary American wit’s 10 operas, which range from “operinas” for the concert stage to grand operas in three acts.

Beeson’s operas champion colorful American stories, including such richly dramatic tales as The Sweet Bye and Bye, about religious leader Sister Rose Ora’s struggle between duty and love in New York. A talented librettist himself, he also drew deeply from great literature, as in his opera Cyrano, which first premiered in Germany in 1990 and is available for a North American premiere. boosey.com/Beeson Spotlight on Operas by Beeson Lizzie Borden Practice in the Art of Captain Jinks of the Horse An American retelling of the Electra Elocution (1998) Marines (1975) myth, Lizzie Borden is Jack Beeson’s Operina** for soprano and piano A romantic comedy in music in three acts searing 1965 masterpiece about one Duration: 30’ Duration: 120’ of America’s most baffling murder Libretto by the composer, adapted from Libretto by Sheldon Harnick, after the cases: Lizzie Borden of Fall River, the writings of Françoise Delsarte and play by Clyde Fitch Massachusetts, charged with killing her Frances P Hoyle-Pogle, and from the miserly father and sniping stepmother poems of Rupert Brooke, Longfellow, and My Heart’s in the Highlands (1969) with an ax in 1892. an anonymous parodist, and JW Riley Chamber opera in two acts ** Operina is a word created by Beeson to Duration: 100’ The curious and horrific story has describe an opera of smaller dimensions, meant for Libretto by the composer, after the play inspired plays, films, and even a ballet the concert stage. by William Saroyan by Agnes de Mille (‘‘Fall River Legend”). But Beeson’s opera particularly allows Sorry, Wrong Number (1996) Lizzie Borden (1965) Reduced for the murderous psychopath to shine, A conversational chamber opera in one act A family portrait in three acts Chamber Duration: 40’ Version as we see Lizzie cower before her Duration: 120’ Available proverb-spouting, tight-fisted father, Libretto by the composer, adapted from Libretto by Kenward Elmslie, envy her lovely younger sister who the play by Lucille Fletcher after a scenario by Richard Plant elopes with a sea captain, and spiral from resentment into madness. Cyrano (1990) North The Sweet Bye and Bye (1956) A heroic comedy in music American Opera in two acts Premiere The opera is also available for in three acts Available Duration: 105’ performance in a reduced chamber Duration: 140’ Libretto by Kenward Elmslie version. Libretto by Sheldon Harnick, based on the play by Edmond Rostand Hello Out There (1953) Critical Acclaim Chamber opera in one act Doctor Heidegger’s Fountain of Duration: 40’ “A chilling, thrilling tale … A socko story, Youth (1978) Libretto by the composer, adapted from with a powerful libretto and music that Chamber opera in one act the play by William Saroyan will make your hair stand on end.” Duration: 42’ —Times Union Libretto by Sheldon Harnick, after the Jonah (1948–1950) short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne Opera in three acts “Beeson’s score is exquisitely crafted, Duration: 115’ but its survival, in the end, is due to Libretto by the composer after the play the extraordinary dramatic insight of a Cover image: Lizzie Borden by Paul Goodman composer who wrote his first libretto at New York City Opera, 1999 fifteen.” New— Yorker Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg