4. Egyptian Time - Jackie O by Michael Daugherty

Jackie O (1997) opera in 2 acts by Michael Daugherty
Michael Daugherty, music
Wayne Koestenbaum, libretto
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera & Banff Center for the Arts
World premiere: Cullen Theater, Houston, Texas, March 14, 1997, Christopher Larkin, conductor

Act I. The Happening
Time: 1968
Place: Andy Warhol's Factory, New York City
4. Egyptian Time
Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Andy Warhol, Party Goers and Paparazzo

University of Michigan Opera
Kenneth Kiesler, conductor
Nicolette Molnår, director
Performance date: March 2006
Mendelssohn Theater, University of Michigan

Jackie O Synopsis

Jackie O (1997) is a celebration of musical life in the late sixties, a pop opera that explores the interplay of various musical idioms associated with "high" and "popular" culture in America.

Wayne Koestenbaum has described the loose narrative of his libretto as a "collage" in the style of Gertrude Stein's libretto for Four Saints in Three Acts, an opera by 20th century American composer, Virgil Thomson. Koestenbaum has written both poetry and non-fiction works on opera and on iconic opera singers like Maria Callas.[4] It is not surprising that in addition to the character of Maria Callas, there are several conscious allusions to the art-form in the Jackie O libretto. These include: Violetta's death aria from La traviata, reflected in Addio Del Passato; the funeral pyre from the final scene of Norma, reflected in The Flame Duet; and both Countess Almaviva's forgiveness aria in The Marriage of Figaro and the off-stage voice of the imprisoned Manrico in Il trovatore, reflected in Jack's Song.[5][6]

Act I begins with a "happening" in artist Andy Warhol's studio in New York City, attended by various celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Aristotle Onassis, and his lover, Maria Callas. All eagerly anticipate Jackie and sing Jackie's Coming!. Jackie arrives and is fascinated by Onassis. Callas realizes that Onassis is going to leave her for Jackie and sings Addio Del Passato (Goodbye to the past). Onassis and Jackie escape from the party to see a new art movie, I Am Curious (Yellow).

Act II is set on Onassis' yacht, Christina, and on his private island, Skorpios. Jackie and Onassis have now been married for a year. On the yacht, Jackie becomes increasingly melancholy and given to trance-like states. Maria Callas seeks a reunion with Onassis and the two decide to meet (I Will See You At The Lido). In one of her trances, Jackie wanders off to the island, where she and Maria Callas meet and reconcile with each other as they sing The Flame Duet. Jackie and Callas then smash a paparazzo's camera, which gives Jackie the power to communicate with her dead husband, who is heard as a disembodied voice. She forgives him for his past infidelities in their duet, Jack's Song. The opera ends with Jackie deciding to return to America, wistfully singing The New Frontier Is Here.

For further information on Michael Daugherty's music, see his website:
www.michaeldaugherty.net

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jackie O
• opera
• Michael Daugherty
• Wayne Koestenbaum
• Houston Grand Opera
• Banff Center
• University of Michigan
• Kenneth Kiesler
• Nicolette Molnar
• Mendelssohn Theater
• 1968