“It’s A Wonderful Life Soars“ Houston Chronicle
“Stunningly new” Houston Arts+Culture
“Heggie’s most delightful concoction” TheaterJones
It’s A Wonderful Life (2016) is an opera in two acts with a libretto by Gene Scheer based on the beloved 1946 movie directed by Frank Capra (by permission of Paramount Licensing) and The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. Set on Christmas Eve 1945 in the heavens and on earth, it tells the story of George Bailey in Bedford Falls, NY and the angel Clara who is sent to be his guardian angel and show him the value of his life.
(l-r) D’Ana Lombard, Yongzhau Yu, William Burden, Talise Trevigne, Zoie Reems & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
It’s A Wonderful Life was commissioned by Houston Grand Opera with San Francisco Opera and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. It received its world premiere on Dec 2, 2016 in the Cullen Theater of Houston’s Wortham Center for the Arts and ran for nine sold-out performances.
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Conducted by Patrick Summers and directed by Leonard Foglia, the production featured sets by Robert Brill, lighting by Brian Nason, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, costumes by David Woolard and choreography by Keturah Stickann.
The cast included tenor William Burden (George Bailey), soprano Talise Trevigne (Clara), soprano Andrea Carroll (Mary Bailey), baritone Rod Gilfry (Mr Potter/Mr Gower), tenor Anthony Dean Griffey (Uncle Billy) and baritone Joshua Hopkins (Harry Bailey). The quartet of four Angels First Class were sung by soprano D’Ana Lombard, mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, tenor Yongzhau Yu, and baritone Ben Edquist. The production featured 16 members of the Houston Grand Opera Chorus and 24 members of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra.

Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera

Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
The orchestration was designed to be flexible. For the Houston premiere, the orchestra included 24 players: 1 flute (piccolo), 1 oboe (English Horn), 1 clarinet (bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 2 percussion, 1 harp, 1 piano, 6 violins, 2 violas, 3 cellos, 1 contrabass. The string count may be significantly increased for larger theaters.
It’s A Wonderful Life was recorded live for PentaTone Classics.

Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera

Zoie Reems & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
The creation of It’s A Wonderful Life was supported by generous gifts from The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, Sara and Bill Morgan, The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation, Diane B. Wilsey, Franci Neely, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Diane and Stephen Heiman, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
(l-r) D’Ana Lombard, Yongzhau Yu, William Burden, Talise Trevigne, Zoie Reems & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Andrea Carroll, William Burden & Anthony Dean Griffey
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
(t-b):Anthony Dean Griffey, William Burden & Joshua Hopkins
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
(above) Talise Trevigne, (front) Elle Graper, C.J. Friend, Levi Smith, Andrea Carroll, William Burden, (behind) members of the HGO Chorus
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Rod Gilfry, William Burden & Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
(Front) Andrea Carroll, C.J. Friend, Talise Trevigne, Levi Smith, William Burden and Elle Graper, (Behind) D’Ana Lombard & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
(center) Andrea Carroll & William Burden, with members of the HGO Chorus
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Heath Martin, William Burden, Andrea Carroll, & Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
William Burden & Andrea Carroll
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
William Burden, Joshua Hopkins, Kate Smith & Anthony Dean Griffey
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Brian Hues, Rod Gilfry, William Burden & Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Andrea Carroll, William Burden, Taelon Stonecipher & members of the HGO Chorus
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Cast & Chorus
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Joshua Hopkins, William Burden, Anthony Dean Griffey & Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Joshua Hopkins, William Burden & Anthony Dean Griffey
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Talise Trevigne & William Burden
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
Rod Gilfry, Stephen Thomas, Zoie Reems & Talise Trevigne
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
D’Ana Lombard,Yongzhau Yu, Talise Trevigne, Zoie Reams & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
(l-r) D’Ana Lombard, Yongzhau Yu, Talise Trevigne, Zoie Reems & Ben Edquist
Photo Karen Almond, Houston Grand Opera
It’s A Wonderful Life was a co-commission and co-production with Houston Grand Opera and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TEAM
Composer | Jake Heggie |
Libretto | Gene Scheer |
Conductor | Patrick Summers |
Director | Leonard Foglia |
Set Design | Robert Brill |
Costumes | David Woolard |
Lighting | Brian Nason |
Projections | Elaine J. McCarthy |
Sound Design | Andrew Harper |
Choreography | Keturah Stickann |
Chorus Director | Bradley Moore |
Stage Manager | Christopher Staub |
Assistant Director | Meg Edwards |
Musical preparation and rehearsal pianists | Peter Pasztor, Patrick Harvey |
ORIGINAL CAST
George Bailey | William Burden |
Clara, Angel Second Class | Talise Trevigne |
Mary Bailey | Andrea Carroll |
Mr Gower/Mr Potter | Rod Gilfry |
Uncle Billy | Anthony Dean Griffey |
Harry Bailey | Joshua Hopkins |
Ernie | Heath Martin |
Mother Bailey | Frankie Hickman |
Quartet of Angels First Class | |
soprano | D’Ana Lombard |
mezzo-soprano | Zoie Reams |
tenor | Yongzhau Yu |
baritone | Ben Edquist |
Children | |
Young George | Stephen Thomas |
Young Mary, Janie | C.J. Friend |
Zuzu | Elle Graper |
Young Sam, Tommy | Levi Smith |
Young Harry | Jack Townsend |
The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
ORCHESTRATION
The orchestration was designed to be flexible. For the Houston premiere, the orchestra included 24 players: 1 flute (piccolo), 1 oboe (English Horn), 1 clarinet (bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 2 percussion, 1 harp, 1 piano, 6 violins, 2 violas, 3 cellos, 1 contrabass. The string count may be significantly increased for larger theaters.
RECORDING
Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer
Complete live recording of the world premiere at Houston Grand Opera, featuring William Burden (George Bailey), Talise Trevigne (Clara the Angel) and Andrea Carroll (Mary Bailey). Patrick Summers leads the Houston Grand Opera orchestra and chorus.
Available on Pentatone Music, Amazon, Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.
PUBLISHING & RIGHTS
Bill Holab Music is agent for the sales and rentals of the score to Its A Wonderful Life.
Published by Bent Pen Music, Inc. (BMI)
For information on Grand Rights: Don Erik Franzen, Inc. dfranzen@lawff.com.
SCORE EXCERPTS AVAILABLE
I'm Gonna Love You 'til the Day I Die from the Opera Arias for Soprano Collection
Waiting for the Day I Get My Wings from the Opera Arias for Soprano Collection
George Bailey's Soliloquy from the Opera Arias for Tenor Collection