THREE DECEMBERS, an opera in two acts by Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer, based on an original play by Terrence McNally. Live recording from Houston Grand Opera (2008).
Frederica von Stade (Madeline), Kristin Clayton (Bea), Keith Phares (Charlie). Patrick Summers conducts members of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra.
The great Frederica von Stade sings “the role of a lifetime” (Houston Chronicle) as Broadway star Madeline Mitchell in the latest lyric drama by Heggie & Scheer, based on a play by Terrence McNally. Madeline’s children are sung by soprano Kristin Clayton (Bea) and baritone Keith Phares (Charlie). In the story, a famous actress has become estranged from her children. Madeline has been keeping a powerful secret from them, and over three decades hidden truths are revealed as they struggle to find their identities as part of a family and in their lives.
For more information about the composition, see THREE DECEMBERS (2008).Available on Amazon, Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.





Listen now on Spotify.
Upcoming and Past Performances (since 2012):
Jul 21 & 23
2022 CHATHAM |
Three Decembers in a new production at Berkshire Opera Festival, featuring Adriana Zabala (Madeline), Monica Dewey (Beatrice) and Theo Hoffman (Charlie); directed by Beth Greenberg and conducted by Christopher James Ray. More Perf. Info. Berkshire Opera Festival Type: Three Decembers |
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2022 WINNIPEG |
Three Decembers at Little Opera Company of Winnipeg, starring Kimberly Barber (Madeline), Lara Ciekiewicz (Beatrice) and Sheldon Baxter (Charlie), conducted by Naomi Woo, directed by Rob Herriot. More Perf. Info. Little Opera Company Type: Three Decembers |
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2022 LONDON |
UK premiere of Three Decembers, produced by Opera della Luna at Wilton’s Music Hall and starring Lucy Schaufer (Maddy), Llio Evans (Bea), Jean-Kristof Bouton (Charlie); conducted by Toby Purser, directed by Jeff Clarke. More Perf. Info. Opera della Luna Type: Three Decembers |
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2022 NORFOLK, RICHMOND & FAIRFAX |
Three Decembers at Virginia Opera, performed in three different venues: Harrison Opera House in Norfolk (Jan 28, 29, 30), Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax (Feb 5,6), Dominion Energy Center Richmond (Feb 11,13). Cast features Karen Ziemba (Madeline), Cecilia Violetta López (Bea) and Efraín Solís (Charlie). Conducted by Adam Turner and directed by Lawrence Edelson. Virginia Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2021 SOUTH BEND |
Three Decembers produced by South Bend Lyric Opera in conjunction with Ensemble Concept/21. More Perf. Info. South Bend Lyric Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2021 CORAVILLE |
Three Decembers at University of Iowa, Coraville. University of Iowa, Coralville Type: Three Decembers |
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2021 MIAMI |
Three Decembers at Florida Grand Opera. Performances at Miami Theater Center, Miami Shores. Florida Grand Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2020 SAN JOSE |
Three Decembers in a new, recorded production created and streamed by Opera San Jose starring Susan Graham (Maddy), Maya Kherani (Bea) and Efraín Solís (Charlie); directed by Tara Branahm and conducted by Christopher Ray. More Perf. Info. Opera San Jose Type: Three Decembers |
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2019 SAN DIEGO |
Three Decembers at the San Diego Opera as part of its Detour series, starring Frederica von Stade (Madeline Mitchell), Kristin Clayton (Bea) and Steven LaBrie (Charlie); conducted by Adam Turner and directed by Karen Tiller. Patrick Henry Performing Arts Center. San Diego Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2019 BINGHAMTON |
Three Decembers at Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York. Featuring Tesia Kwarteng (Madeline), Lianne Aharony (Bea), and Aaron Stepanek (Charlie); conducted by Braden Toan and directed by James Kenon Mitchell. Tri-Cities Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2019 MOOREHEAD |
Three Decembers at Fargo Moorehead Chamber Opera, featuring Lucy Thrasher (Madeline Mitchell), Anne Jennifer Nash (Beatrice) and Robert Wesley Mason (Charlie); conducted by Cody Martin and directed by Austin Regan. Performances at Weld Hall, Minnesota State University, Moorehead. More Perf. Info. Fargo Moorehead Chamber Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2019 BOSTON |
Three Decembers at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, produced and directed by Sharon Daniels, featuring Leslie Jacobson Kaye (Madeline), Erin Merceruio (Bea), Mitch FitzDaniel (Charlie). Led by pianist Regan Siglin with sets by Julia Noulin-Merat, costumes by Neil Fortin, lighting by Ginevra Lombardo, and wigs by Rachel Padula. Boston Playwrights’ Theatre Type: Three Decembers |
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2018 NASHVILLE |
Three Decembers at the Nashville Opera featuring Emily Pulley (Madeline Mitchell), Cree Carico (Bea) and Robert Wesley Mason (Charlie); directed by John Hoomes and conducted by Dean Williamson More Perf. Info. Nashville Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2018 ST. LOUIS |
Three Decembers at St Louis Opera Collective in the Kranzberg Arts Center. Cast and production info TBA. More Perf. Info. St. Louis Opera Collective Type: Three Decembers |
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2018 PORTLAND ET AL. |
Three Decembers performed by Opera Maine. Raehann Bryce-Davis (Madeline), and Studio Artists Symone Harcum (Bea) and Yazid Gray (Charlie); directed by Richard Gammon, conducted by Timothy Steele. July 11 at St Lawrence Arts, Portland; July 13 at Deertrees Theatre, Harrison; July 15, The Temple, Ocean Park; July 16, Camden Opera House. More Perf. Info. Opera Maine Type: Three Decembers |
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2018 OKLAHOMA CITY |
Three Decembers at Painted Sky Opera in Oklahoma City. Featuring Catherine McDaniel (Madeline), Allison Nicholas (Beatrice), Andre Chiang (Charlie); conducted by Jan McDaniel and directed by Rob Glaubitz. More Perf. Info. Painted Sky Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2018 LIVERMORE |
Three Decembers at Livermore Valley Opera starring the great Frederica von Stade as Madeline Mitchell, with soprano Kristin Clayton as Beatrice and baritone Shea Owens as Charlie; conducted by Alexander Katsman More Perf. Info. Livermore Valley Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2017 MEMPHIS |
Three Decembers at Opera Memphis in a new production by Ned Canty, conducted by Michael Sakir, with Phyllis Pancella (Madeline) and Jarrett Ott (Charlie) and Cree Carrico (Beatrice). More Perf. Info. Opera Memphis Type: Three Decembers |
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2017 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS |
The original cast of Three Decembers is reunited by Hawaii Opera Theater for performances on four islands: Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. Starring Frederica von Stade (Madeline), Kristin Clayton (Bea), and Keith Phares (Charlie), conducted by Adam Turner. More Perf. Info. Hawaii Opera Theater Type: Three Decembers |
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2017 BIRMINGHAM |
Three Decembers at Opera Birmingham in the Red Mountain Theatre Cabaret. More Perf. Info. Opera Birmingham Type: Three Decembers |
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2016 FAYETTEVILLE |
Three Decembers at Opera Fayetteville, University of Arkansas. Cast includes Cabiria Jacobsen (Madeline), Erin Brittain (Beatrice) and Jacob Scharfman (Charlie). Directed by Jennifer Williams, conducted by Christopher Frisco. More Perf. Info. Opera Fayetteville Type: Three Decembers |
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2016 MILWAUKEE |
Three Decembers at Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, starring Lucy Schaufer (Madeline Mitchell), Rena Harms (Bea), and Keith Phares (Charlie); conducted by Joseph Rescigno, directed by William Florescu. More Perf. Info. Florentine Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2016 AUSTIN |
Three Decembers and At The Statue of Venus at the Butler School of Music UT Austin in the McCullough Theatre. Conductor Kelly Kuo leads the New Music Ensemble in new productions by Robert DeSimone (Three Decembers) and Jessica Burton (At The Statue of Venus). Butler School of Music, University of Texas Type: Three Decembers |
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2015 LOUISVILLE |
Three Decembers at Kentucky Opera in Louisville, starring Denyce Graves (Madeline Mitchell), Nicole Joseph (Bea) and Carlton Ford (Charlie); conducted by Kostis Protopapas, directed by William Florescu. Kentucky Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2015 ATLANTA |
Three Decembers in a new production at the Atlanta Opera with mezzo-soprano Theodora Hanslowe (Madeline Mitchell), soprano Jennifer Black (Beatrice), baritone Jesse Blumberg (Charlie); directed by Emma Griffin. Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA More Perf. Info. The Atlanta Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2014 INDIANOLA |
Three Decembers at Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines, IA. Cast TBA; directed by Kristine McIntyre. More Perf. Info. Des Moines Metro Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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Oct 3, 4 2014 ARLINGTON |
Three Decembers at Urban Arias, Arlington VA, with Janice Hall (Madeline Mitchell), Emily Pulley (Beatrice) and Michael Mayes (Charlie); conducted by Robert Wood, directed by Michael McConnell. More Perf. Info. Urban Arias Type: Three Decembers |
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2013 ZURICH |
European premiere of Three Decembers at Opera in Knopfloch, Zurich, Switzerland; Rosina Zoppi (Maddy), Jeannine Hirzel (Bea), Niklaus Kost (Charlie); conducted by Charl de Villiers; directed by Matthias Fluckiger. Opera in Knopfloch Type: Three Decembers |
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2013 TALLAHASSEE |
Three Decembers at Florida State Opera. Florida State Opera Type: Three Decembers |
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2012 NASHVILLE |
BMI Composer-In-Residence at Vanderbilt University during the opera department’s production of Three Decembers (Nov 9 & 11); Amy Jarman is Madeline Mitchell; Gayle Shay directs and Robin Fountain conducts; at the Blair School of Music, Ingram Hall, Nashville, TN. Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music Type: Three Decembers |