''It's a Wonderful Life'' is an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

Jake Heggie Jake Heggie (born March 31, 1961) is an American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers. B ...

to a

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

Gene Scheer Gene Scheer (born April 28, 1958) is an American songwriter, librettist and lyricist. Brother to Samuel Scheer, an English teacher at Windsor High School and part-time musician. Education and early career Scheer was born in New York City. He receiv ...

based on the 1946 film. The opera premiered at the

Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is an American opera company located in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1955 by German-born impresario Walter Herbert and three local Houstonians,Giesberg, Robert I., Carl Cunningham, and Alan Rich. ''Houston Grand Opera at ...

on December 2, 2016."How ''It's a Wonderful Life'' Became an Opera"
"Composer Jake Heggie has turned the classic Christmas movie, about desperate George Bailey and Clarence the angel, into an opera—inspired by his own father's suicide."

Recording

William Burden William Burden may refer to: * William Burden (tenor), American tenor * William Fletcher Burden (1830–1867), American industrialist * William A. M. Burden Sr. (1877–1909), American football player and stock broker * William Douglas Burden (189 ...

(George Bailey), Andrea Carroll (Mary Hatch);

Orchestra, conductor:

Patrick Summers Patrick Summers (born August 14, 1963) is an American conductor best known for his work with Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where he has been the artistic and music director since 2011, and with San Francisco Opera, where he served as principal gues ...

, Pentatone

References

{{It's a Wonderful Life Operas 2016 operas Christmas operas English-language operas Operas based on films Operas by Jake Heggie Operas set in the United States

Recording

See also

References