Composer

:

William Mayer

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1983

Average_duration

:

118:10

A Death in the Family is an opera composed by William Mayer, with a libretto by Thomas Babe. The opera is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by James Agee. The opera was composed in 1981 and premiered on May 20, 1983, at the Houston Grand Opera. The opera is set in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the summer of 1915. The story revolves around the sudden death of Jay Follet, a young father and husband. The opera explores the impact of his death on his family, particularly his wife Mary and their young son Rufus. The opera also delves into the themes of grief, loss, and the struggle to come to terms with death. The opera is divided into three acts, with each act focusing on a different aspect of the family's grief. The first act deals with the immediate aftermath of Jay's death, as the family struggles to come to terms with their loss. The second act explores the impact of Jay's death on Rufus, who is struggling to understand what has happened. The third act focuses on Mary's grief and her attempts to move on from Jay's death. The music of A Death in the Family is characterized by its use of traditional American folk music, including hymns, spirituals, and blues. The opera also features a number of solo arias and duets, which serve to highlight the emotional turmoil of the characters. Overall, A Death in the Family is a powerful and moving opera that explores the universal themes of grief and loss. Its use of traditional American music gives the opera a unique and distinctly American feel, while its focus on the impact of death on a family makes it a deeply personal and relatable work.

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