Jake Heggie, with his debut opera, Dead Man Walking, created an instant sensation in the opera world upon its premiere in 2000. It would go on to become the most widely performed opera of the 21st century, and launch the career of one of the most vibrant and engaging compositional voices of our time—whose output would include critically acclaimed operas Moby-Dick (2010), Three Decembers (2008), Intelligence (2023), and It’s a Wonderful Life (2016). In addition to 10 full-length operas and numerous one-acts, Heggie has composed more than 300 art songs, as well as concertos, chamber music, and choral and orchestral works. His compositions have been performed on five continents, and he regularly collaborates with some of the world’s most beloved artists as both composer and pianist. Heggie's new work, Earth 2.0 will receive its Michigan premiere with the Grand Rapids Symphony (which co-commissioned the piece with the Fort Worth Symphony) in its season finale concerts, May 9 and 10.
Listen here, as Foley Schuler speaks with Jake Heggie about his unique musical journey, and about this compelling new work written with librettist Anita Amirrezvani—an unusual cross between an opera and song cycle, composed for and starring the remarkable countertenor Key’mon Murrah, and which features two dancers, with choreography by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founder of the legendary NYC-based dance troupe Urban Bush Women—which takes us on a deeply emotional journey through one of the most urgent stories of our time: The relationship between Earth and Humanity.
You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—every weekday afternoon on Blue Lake Public Radio.
