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Lizzie Borden (opera)

Lizzie Borden is the sixth and best known opera by American composer Jack Beeson, commissioned by the Ford Foundation. The libretto by Kenward Elmslie after a scenario by Richard Plant is based on the real-life case of Lizzie Borden.


Lizzie Borden is the sixth and best known opera by American composer Jack Beeson, commissioned by the Ford Foundation. The libretto by Kenward Elmslie after a scenario by Richard Plant is based on the real-life case of Lizzie Borden.

It was premiered on March 25, 1965, by the New York City Opera conducted by Anton Coppola and subsequently released on record. The roughly two-hour opera is in three acts and an epilogue and is published by Boosey & Hawkes.

RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, March 25, 1965 (Conductor: – Anton Coppola)
Lizzie Bordenmezzo-sopranoBrenda Lewis
Margret Borden, Lizzie's sistersopranoAnne Elgar
Captain Jason MacFarlane, Margret's love interestbaritoneRichard Fredricks
Abigail Borden, the stepmothersopranoEllen Faull
Andrew Borden. Lizzie's fatherbaritoneHerbert Beattie
Reverend HarringtontenorRichard Krause

The plot is a dramatic retelling of the famed double axe murders of the stepmother and the father of the title character in Fall River, Massachusetts. However a great number of dramatic changes are made for effectiveness on the stage.

  • Lizzie Borden at North American Works Directory
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