Girls of the Golden West (opera): Difference between revisions
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'''''Girls of the Golden West''''' is an [[opera]] in two acts with music by [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]] and a [[libretto]] by [[Peter Sellars]]. It was commissioned by the [[San Francisco Opera]], jointly with [[Dallas Opera]], the [[Dutch National Opera]] (De Nationale Opera) and [[Teatro La Fenice]] |
'''''Girls of the Golden West''''' is an [[opera]] in two acts with music by [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]] and a [[libretto]] by [[Peter Sellars]]. It was commissioned by the [[San Francisco Opera]], jointly with [[Dallas Opera]], the [[Dutch National Opera]] (De Nationale Opera) and [[La Fenice|Teatro La Fenice]] in Venice. As of June 2016, John Adams was in the process of composing music to accompany the libretto.<ref name="SFO">Press release, [http://sfopera.com/about-us/press-room/press-releases/girls-west/#sthash.QSpSe8x5.dpuf San Francisco Opera to Present World Premiere of "Girls of the Golden West"], San Francisco Opera, 14 June 2016, accessed 15 June 2016</ref> The opera was premiered in San Francisco on 21 November 2017.<ref>[https://sfopera.com/1718season/201718-season/goldenwest/ San Francisco Opera website], accessed 22 November 2017.</ref> |
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The opera is inspired by the 1851/1852 letters of [[Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe]] who lived for a year and a half in the mining settlement of Rich Bar |
The opera is inspired by the 1851/1852 letters of [[Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe]], who lived for a year and a half in the mining settlement of Rich Bar (now [[Diamondville, California]]) during the [[California Gold Rush]]. Clapppe published the letters under her under the [[pen name]] Dame Shirley.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = The Shirley Letters|last = Shirley|first = Dame|publisher = Peregine Press|year = 1970|isbn = |location = |pages = }}</ref> <ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|url = |title = Out of The Shadows Louise Clappe's Life and Early California Writings|last = Smith-Barazini|first = Marlene|date = Winter 1999–2000|journal = California History|accessdate = November 10, 2014|doi = |pmid = }}</ref> The libretto is also sourced from other literature of the period, including newspaper articles and the writings of [[Mark Twain]]. Adams wrote, "To be able to set to music the authentic voices of these people, whether from their letters or their songs or from newspaper accounts from their time, is a great privilege for me." Sellars, who will also direct the opera, conceived the libretto while doing research for a production of [[Giacomo Puccini]]'s 1910 opera ''[[La fanciulla del West]]'' (often translated into English as ''The Girl of the Golden West'' ), which also deals with the gold rush period. According to Sellars, "These true stories of the Forty-Niners are overwhelming in their heroism, passion and cruelty, telling tales of racial conflicts, colorful and humorous exploits, political strife and struggles to build anew a life and to decide what it would mean to be American."<ref name="SFO" /> |
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Sellars's previous collaborations with Adams have included premiere productions of |
Sellars's previous collaborations with Adams have included premiere productions of ''[[Nixon in China]]'', ''[[The Death of Klinghoffer]]'' and ''[[Doctor Atomic]]'' (for which Sellars also wrote the libretto).<ref>Michael Cooper, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/arts/music/john-adams-and-peter-sellars-again-joining-forces-for-new-opera.html?_r=0 "John Adams and Peter Sellars Again Joining Forces for New Opera"], ''[[New York Times]]'', 14 June 2016, accessed 15 June 2016</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:34, 25 November 2017
Girls of the Golden West is an opera in two acts with music by John Adams and a libretto by Peter Sellars. It was commissioned by the San Francisco Opera, jointly with Dallas Opera, the Dutch National Opera (De Nationale Opera) and Teatro La Fenice in Venice. As of June 2016, John Adams was in the process of composing music to accompany the libretto.[1] The opera was premiered in San Francisco on 21 November 2017.[2]
The opera is inspired by the 1851/1852 letters of Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe, who lived for a year and a half in the mining settlement of Rich Bar (now Diamondville, California) during the California Gold Rush. Clapppe published the letters under her under the pen name Dame Shirley.[3] [4] The libretto is also sourced from other literature of the period, including newspaper articles and the writings of Mark Twain. Adams wrote, "To be able to set to music the authentic voices of these people, whether from their letters or their songs or from newspaper accounts from their time, is a great privilege for me." Sellars, who will also direct the opera, conceived the libretto while doing research for a production of Giacomo Puccini's 1910 opera La fanciulla del West (often translated into English as The Girl of the Golden West ), which also deals with the gold rush period. According to Sellars, "These true stories of the Forty-Niners are overwhelming in their heroism, passion and cruelty, telling tales of racial conflicts, colorful and humorous exploits, political strife and struggles to build anew a life and to decide what it would mean to be American."[1]
Sellars's previous collaborations with Adams have included premiere productions of Nixon in China, The Death of Klinghoffer and Doctor Atomic (for which Sellars also wrote the libretto).[5]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Press release, San Francisco Opera to Present World Premiere of "Girls of the Golden West", San Francisco Opera, 14 June 2016, accessed 15 June 2016
- ^ San Francisco Opera website, accessed 22 November 2017.
- ^ Shirley, Dame (1970). The Shirley Letters. Peregine Press.
- ^ Smith-Barazini, Marlene (Winter 1999–2000). "Out of The Shadows Louise Clappe's Life and Early California Writings". California History.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Michael Cooper, "John Adams and Peter Sellars Again Joining Forces for New Opera", New York Times, 14 June 2016, accessed 15 June 2016