Composer

:

Jack Beeson

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1965

First Performance

:

Mar 25, 1965

Average_duration

:

112:40

"Lizzie Borden" is an opera composed by Jack Beeson, with a libretto by Kenward Elmslie. The opera premiered on March 25, 1965, at the New York City Opera. The plot of the opera is based on the infamous 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, the father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts. The opera is divided into two acts, with each act consisting of several scenes. The first act begins with Lizzie Borden discovering her father's body and calling for help. The police arrive and begin to investigate the murder, questioning Lizzie and her sister Emma. As the investigation continues, suspicion falls on Lizzie, and she is eventually arrested and put on trial for the murders. The second act takes place in the courtroom, where Lizzie's trial is being held. The prosecution presents evidence against Lizzie, including her behavior before and after the murders, as well as the discovery of a hatchet with blood on it in the basement of the Borden home. Lizzie's defense argues that she is innocent and that the evidence against her is circumstantial. Throughout the opera, Lizzie's character is portrayed as complex and enigmatic. She is alternately sympathetic and suspicious, and her motivations for the murders are never fully explained. The other characters in the opera, including Lizzie's sister Emma, the police, and the prosecution and defense attorneys, are also portrayed as complex and multi-dimensional. The music of "Lizzie Borden" is characterized by its dissonant harmonies and angular melodies, which reflect the tension and unease of the opera's subject matter. The opera also features a number of musical motifs, including a recurring theme associated with Lizzie's guilt or innocence. Despite its controversial subject matter, "Lizzie Borden" was well-received by audiences and critics alike. The opera has been performed numerous times since its premiere, and it remains a powerful and thought-provoking work of American opera.

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