Composer

:

Lee Hoiby

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

"Summer and Smoke" is an opera composed by Lee Hoiby, with a libretto by Lanford Wilson. The opera is based on the play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. It premiered on October 7, 1971, at the St. Louis Opera Theatre. The opera is divided into three acts, with each act consisting of several scenes. The first act introduces the main characters, Alma Winemiller and John Buchanan Jr., and their families. Alma is a minister's daughter who is deeply in love with John, a wild and reckless young man who is the son of a wealthy doctor. The second act takes place several years later, when Alma and John have both grown up and are living in the same town. Alma is still in love with John, but he has become a hard-drinking womanizer who is no longer interested in her. The third act takes place on a hot summer night, when Alma and John finally confront their feelings for each other. The music of "Summer and Smoke" is characterized by its lyrical melodies and lush harmonies. Hoiby's score is heavily influenced by the music of the late Romantic era, with echoes of composers such as Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. The vocal writing is particularly expressive, with soaring lines for the soprano and tenor leads. The opera's themes of love, desire, and repression are explored through the music and the libretto. Alma's longing for John is expressed through her soaring arias, while John's conflicted emotions are conveyed through his brooding baritone lines. The opera's climax, in which Alma and John finally confront their feelings for each other, is a powerful moment of emotional release. Overall, "Summer and Smoke" is a beautifully crafted opera that captures the essence of Tennessee Williams' play. Hoiby's music is both lush and emotionally charged, and the libretto by Lanford Wilson is a faithful adaptation of the original text. The opera remains a popular choice for opera companies around the world, and is a testament to the enduring power of Williams' story.

More....