Composer

:

Jake Heggie

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song Cycle

Compose Date

:

1999

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

'Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia' is a song cycle composed by Jake Heggie in 2001. The work was premiered on March 3, 2002, at the San Francisco Opera Center by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and pianist Jake Heggie. The cycle consists of nine songs, each based on a text from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' that is addressed to Ophelia. The first movement, "How should I your true love know," is a hauntingly beautiful song that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "Good morrow, 'tis Saint Valentine's Day," is a playful and flirtatious song that captures the youthful energy of Ophelia. The third movement, "To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day," is a more somber and introspective song that reflects on the fleeting nature of love. The fourth movement, "Sweets to the sweet," is a tender and mournful song that expresses the speaker's grief over Ophelia's death. The fifth movement, "They bore him barefaced on the bier," is a powerful and dramatic song that captures the intensity of the funeral procession. The sixth movement, "Before you tumbled me," is a bitter and angry song that expresses Ophelia's frustration with the men in her life. The seventh movement, "How should I your true love know," is a reprise of the first movement, but with a different musical setting that emphasizes the cyclical nature of the work. The eighth movement, "When I was in love with you," is a nostalgic and wistful song that reflects on the speaker's past relationship with Ophelia. The final movement, "Madam, weep no more," is a gentle and comforting song that offers solace to Ophelia in her final moments. Overall, 'Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia' is a deeply emotional and evocative work that captures the essence of Shakespeare's tragic heroine. Heggie's music is both lyrical and dramatic, with a keen sense of character and emotion that brings the text to life. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of Shakespeare's words, and a tribute to the timeless beauty of art song.

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