Composer

:

Lukas Foss

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1953

Average_duration

:

39:41

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is an opera composed by Lukas Foss in 1950. The plot is based on a short story by Mark Twain, which tells the tale of a man named Jim Smiley who enters his frog, Dan'l Webster, into a jumping contest. The story is narrated by a stranger who visits the town and is told the story by a local resident. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement introduces the characters and sets the scene in Calaveras County. The second movement is the jumping contest, where Jim Smiley's frog, Dan'l Webster, competes against other frogs. The final movement reveals the stranger's true identity and the outcome of the contest. The music of The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is characterized by its playful and whimsical nature. Foss uses a variety of musical styles, including jazz and folk music, to capture the spirit of the story. The opera also features a narrator who interacts with the characters and the audience, adding to the lighthearted tone of the piece. The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County premiered on May 18, 1950, at the Town Hall in New York City. The opera was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it has since become a beloved classic of American opera. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Foss's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the humor and charm of Mark Twain's original story.

More....