Three Decembers

Three Decembers is a chamber opera based on the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Terrence McNally. The three parts of the opera are set in the month of December in the years 1986, 1996 and 2006 and it tells the story of a famous actress, Madeline, and her two adult children as they struggle to know and love each other. The role of Madeline Mitchell was originally written for Frederica von Stade, and has since been sung by mezzos such as Joyce Di Donato and Susan Graham. With a heartfelt libretto by Gene Scheer, and a lyrical score by Jake Heggie, Three Decembers is a moving humorous exploration of family, identity, and the ties that endure.