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).

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Listen now on Spotify.

Upcoming and Past Performances (since 2012):

Add Add to Google Calendar Download iCal Dec 3 - Jan 31 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
July 17, 19, 22, 23 & 25 2020 PORTLAND (OR)	(POSTPONED) Three Decembers at Portland Opera with Susannah Mars (Madeline), Caitlin Lynch (Bea) and Geoffrey Schellenberg (Charlie), conducted by Nicholas Fox in a new production by director Ned Canty. More Perf. Info. Portland Opera Type: Three Decembers
Apr 23 - 25 2020 WINNIPEG	(POSTPONED) Three Decembers at the Little Opera Company in Winnipeg with Kimberly Barber (Madeline), Lara Ciekiewicz (Beatrice) and Sheldon Baxter (Charlie) in the Salle Martial Caron of the Université de Saint-Boniface. More Perf. Info. Little Opera Company Type: Three Decembers
Mar 8, 9 & 10 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
Feb 22, 24, Mar 1 & 3 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
Feb. 15 & 17 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
Jan 25 - 27 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
Nov 9 - 11 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
Sep 7 - 8 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
Jul 11, 13, 15, 16 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
May 11 - 13 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
Apr 28 - 29 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
Apr 1 & 8 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
Mar 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, Apr 1 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
Jan 20 & 22 2017 BIRMINGHAM	Three Decembers at Opera Birmingham in the Red Mountain Theatre Cabaret. More Perf. Info. Opera Birmingham Type: Three Decembers
Dec 2 & 4 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
March 11, 13, 16, 18, 20 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
Feb 26, 28 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
Nov. 13, 15 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
May 29 - 31 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
Dec 5, 6, 7 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
Sept 27, 28, 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
Oct 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 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
May 24 - 25 2013 TALLAHASSEE	Three Decembers at Florida State Opera. Florida State Opera Type: Three Decembers
Nov 7 - 11 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