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Three Decembers
90
English
Synopsis
A famous stage actress, Madeline Mitchell, and her two adult children, Charlie and Bea, struggle to connect across three decades: 1986, 1996, and 2006. The drama unfolds over three Christmases, as family secrets are revealed. Charlie is in a relationship with his partner Burt, who is dying of AIDS, and feels his mother is distant because he is gay. Bea, trapped in an unhappy marriage, seeks comfort in alcohol. Over the years, they grapple with their mother’s career-driven neglect, the truth about their father’s suicide, and ultimately, a fragile reconciliation
Composer
Jake Heggie
Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright
Gene Scheer
Year of composition/publication / premiere
2007/2008
Genre
Opera
LGBTQAI+ category
Gay, Queer
Level of centrality
Main character
Characters
Charlie, Burt
Voice type
Baritone
Pronouns
he/him
Publisher / Rights holder
Bent Pen Music, San Francisco
Where to buy / access the work
The piano/vocal score (235 pages) is available for purchase from Bent Pen Music
Performance rights
For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.
Official website
Audio recording(s)
Video performance(s)
Keywords