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Angels in America

140

English

Synopsis

The opera condenses Tony Kushner’s epic two-part play. It focuses on the intertwined stories of two couples living in 1980s New York City amid the AIDS crisis: Prior Walter and Louis Ironson, a gay couple, and Harper and Joe Pitt, a Mormon couple. After Prior is diagnosed with AIDS, Louis abandons him. Harper is addicted to Valium, and Joe, a closeted gay man and Roy Cohn’s protégé, begins a relationship with Louis. Prior has visions of an Angel who declares him a prophet. The story culminates with Prior rejecting the angel’s call, asking only for “more life,” and ends five years later with a moment of reconciliation at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park.

Composer

Péter Eötvös

Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright

Mari Mezei

Year of composition/publication / premiere

2003/2004

Genre

Opera

LGBTQAI+ category

Gay

Level of centrality

Main character

Characters

Prior Walter, Louis Ironson, Belize, Roy Cohn, Joe Pitt

Voice type

Baritone, Bass, Contra-tenor, Soprano, Tenor

Pronouns

he/him

Publisher / Rights holder

Schott Music, Mainz

Where to buy / access the work

Performance material and study score are available for purchase from Schott Music.

Performance rights

For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.