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Higdon / Scheer

Cold Mountain

Music by Jennifer Higdon
Libretto by Gene Scheer
Based on the novel by Charles Frazier
Performed in English with English supertitles
Opera at the Academy

A love to move mountains

Fatigued by the horrors of the Civil War, deserter W.P. Inman foots the arduous terrain of North Carolina toward home and the salve of his love, Ada Monroe, herself transformed by his absence. Once a Southern lady of privilege, Ada adapts to years of profound deprivation thanks to a resourceful new friend, Ruby. Inman’s odyssey home is plagued by not only the Home Guard’s marshals, but a more gruesome possibility: has the war’s violence withered his human capacity to love? And further, what truly makes a man a human?

Casting Update: Baritone Jarrett Ott replaces Nathan Gunn as W.P. Inman. Read more >>

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Cold Mountain is part of One Book, One Philadelphia-A project of the Free Library of Philadelphia

Full Synopsis

MapAcademy of Music

Dates are Feb. 2016.

Fri, Feb 5	8:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 7	2:30 p.m.
Wed, Feb 10	7:30 p.m.
Fri, Feb 12	8:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 14	2:30 p.m.

Approx. 2 hrs 45 min
Includes a 20 min intermission

Cold Mountain is underwritten in part by The Wyncote Foundation as recommended by Frederick R. Haas and Daniel K. Meyer, M.D., Ms. Barbara Augusta Teichert, and The General Director's Council.

Cold Mountain is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

Events surrounding Cold Mountain are supported in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Wallace Foundation.

East Coast Premiere | American Repertoire Program

Co-commission and co-production by The Santa Fe Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Minnesota Opera in collaboration with North Carolina Opera

Gallery

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Baritone Jarrett Ott (right) is injured Confederate soldier W.P. Inman in Opera Philadelphia's East Coast Premiere of COLD MOUNTAIN. Photographs by Kelly & Massa. A Blind Man (Kevin Burdette) speaks with Inman (Jarrett Ott) before Inman decides to desert the Confederate Army. Jarrett Ott as W.P. Inman. Ruby (Cecelia Hall) comes to help Ada (Isabel Leonard) tend to Black Cove Farm on Cold Mountain. W.P. Inman (Jarrett Ott) recalls a happier time with Ada Monroe (Isabel Leonard) before the Civil War. Lila (Heather Stebbins, center) and her three sisters (L-R, Olivia Vote, Lauren Eberwein, and Heather Phillips) encounter Inman (Jarrett Ott, bottom) after he washes ashore following a dangerous trek downriver. The once-privileged Ada (Isabel Leonard) must learn how to survive from the poor but talented Ruby (Cecelia Hall). Ruby (Cecelia Hall) encounters her estranged father Stobrod Thewes (Kevin Burdette), who has also deserted the war. Ada (Isabel Leonard) recalls saying goodbye to Inman (Jarrett Ott) as he leaves for the Civil War. Ruby (Cecelia Hall) and Ada (Isabel Leonard), at right, are visited by villainous Home Guard leader Teague (Jay Hunter Morris) and his young protégé, Birch (Andrew Farkas). Teague (Jay Hunter Morris) uses questionable tactics in hunting down Confederate deserters. Inman (Jarrett Ott) sings of his journey back to Ada (Isabel Leonard, in background). Lucinda (Marietta Simpson), a runaway slave, encounters an injured Inman (Jarrett Ott) among a group of murdered Home Guard prisoners. Ada (Isabel Leonard) and her daughter Grace (Francesca Luzi) in the epilogue of the opera, which flashes forward nine years.

Cast & Creative Team

A world-class team in our hometown

Anthony Michaels-Mooreas Reverend Monroe / Pangle / Homeguard

Marcus DeLoach *as Owens / Ethan / Homeguard

Olivia Vote *as Claire / Siren #3

Robert Brill * Set Design
David C. Woolard Costume Design
Brian Nason Lighting Design
Elaine McCarthy * Projection Design
Elizabeth Braden Chorus Master
David Zimmerman Wig and Make-up Design
Keturah Stickann Assistant Director
Becki Smith Stage Manager
Gregory Boyle Assistant Stage Manager
Jen Shaw Assistant Stage Manager
*Opera Philadelphia debut

The Composer

Jennifer Higdon

Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon (b. Brooklyn, NY, December 31, 1962) is one of America’s most acclaimed and most frequently performed living composers. Higdon started late in music, teaching herself to play flute at the age of 15 and beginning formal musical studies at 18, with an even later start in composition at the age of 21. Despite this late beginning, Jennifer has become a major figure in contemporary Classical music and makes her living from commissions. These commissions represent a range of genres, from orchestral to chamber, to choral, as well as vocal and wind ensemble. Cold Mountain is her first opera. Learn more about Jennifer.