Chatham — World-class, locally-produced opera is a rarity in the Berkshires, mainly because it is relatively expensive to stage. And Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF), which is to say, its board, staff, and supportive public (you), are doing something about it: When BOF presents an opera, the rest of us are all over it like a duck on a June bug—or at least we ought to be. And our next chance to do so comes this week: Berkshire Opera Festival presents Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers” at PS21’s Pavilion Theater in Chatham, New York, Thursday, July 21 and Saturday, July 23.
Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera, “Three Decembers” is based on a play by Terrence McNally, with music by Jake Heggie and libretto by Gene Scheer. The story, set in December of 1986, 1996, and 2006, follows a troubled American family through two decades of, shall we say, growth, with their desperate struggle to maintain familial love and connection culminating in the discovery that their lives have been shaped, all along, by a false narrative.
The cast of “Three Decembers” is stellar:
Playing aging Broadway star Madeline Mitchell, mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala, teaches voice at Yale and has performed in more than 50 operatic roles in the U.S. and internationally (seven world premieres and three U.S. premieres). She has an ongoing role as Nadia Boulanger in the chamber music play, “Nadia.” Zabala is what the New York Times has called “a vivid, fearless presence.” The L.A. Times describes her simply as “an extraordinary, vibrant mezzo-soprano.”
Playing Beatrice, soprano Monica Dewey sang in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2021-2022 productions of “Ariadne auf Naxos,” “Rigoletto,” “Le nozze di Figaro,” and Brett Dean’s “Hamlet.” Opera News considers Dewey’s singing “as close to perfect as opera gets.”
Playing Charlie, baritone Theo Hoffman appears this year as Count Almaviva in a new David Pountney production of “Le nozze di Figaro,” as Schaunard in Seattle Opera’s staging of “La Bohème,” as Frédéric in Delibes’ “Lakmé” with Washington Concert Opera, and as Pierrot in Ethel Smyth’s “Fête Galante” with the Bard Music Festival. He is the recipient of a 2018 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Study Grant and was a Grand Finalist in the 2016 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
“Three Decembers” is directed by Beth Greenberg and conducted by Christopher James Ray.
At rehearsals, Mr. Ray had this to say about the production team: “We’re off to a fantastic start, and director Beth Greenberg has an incredible ability to unlock the best from the cast with her focused, but flexible approach to the staging.
“And we are, of course, very fortunate to have three consummate actors (not to mention their beautiful voices) who bring Maddie, Bea, and Charlie to life with authenticity and tenderness. I know the audience will be drawn in and swept away by their performances.”
Sung in English, “Three Decembers” contains adult language. Running time is about 90 minutes with no intermission.
Following the Thursday, July 21 performance of “Three Decembers,” BOF Artistic Director and Co-Founder Brian Garman will host a discussion with director Beth Greenberg, conductor Christopher James Ray, and all three cast members.
See “Three Decembers at PS21’s Pavilion Theater Thursday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday, July 23, at 1 p.m. Get your tickets here.
