Description
Marking the tenth anniversary of it's 2016 premiere, Houston Grand Opera unveils the first commercial recording of Breaking the Waves, Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's landmark opera. Long acclaimed as one of the most important American operas of the past decade, this release brings the work's searing emotional world to a global audience, making it accessible beyond the stage for the first time. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the early 1970s, Breaking the Waves tells the story of Bess McNeill, a religious young woman with a deep love for her husband Jan, a handsome oil rig worker. When Jan becomes paralyzed in an off-shore accident, Bess's marital vows are put to the test as he encourages her to seek other lovers and return to his bedside to tell him of her sexual activities. He insists that the stories will feel like they are making love together and keep him alive. Bess's increasing selflessness leads to a finale of divine grace, but at great cost. Led by conductor Patrick Summers, the new recording features some of today's most compelling operatic voices, including Lauren Snouffer as Bess McNeill and Ryan McKinny as Jan Nyman. Hailed by The New Yorker as a "once-in-a-generation magician of the orchestra", Mazzoli brings a distinctive musical voice that has established Breaking the Waves as a modern classic.
Tracklist:
- Prologue, His Name is Jan
- Prologue, We Do Not Favor Matrimony With Outsiders
- Scene 1, Wedding
- Scene 2, Ring the Bells
- Scene 2, Golden Heart
- Scene 2, We Two People are Joined in God
- Scene 3, The Gift of Jan
- Scene 3, Your Body is a Map
- Scene 4, I Wish that the Church Had Bells
- Scene 4, We Endure
- Scene 4, I Thank You for Your Love
- Scene 5, Prayer of a Selfish Girl
- Interlude, Drill Deep, Men
- Scene 6, Phone Booth
- Scene 6, Prayer for Jan to Come Home
- Scene 7, Accident
- Scene 7, What is it Now, Bess?
- Scene 1, Your Husband Has Suffered Serious Injuries
- Scene 1, Goodness, What Powers You Possess
- Scene 2, Love of My Life
- Interlude, Wives, Submit Yourselves unto Your Own Husbands
- Scene 3, Jan, What Have You Done?
- Scene 3, Love Will Keep Me Alive
- Scene 3, I'm Tired of Waiting
- Scene 4, I Brought Supplies
- Scene 4, I am Lying on My Back
- Scene 5, DrRichardson, I've Come to Dance
- Scene 5, We Breathe, We Drip, We Bleed
- Scene 1, My Body is a Map
- Scene 1, Feeble Girl
- Scene 1, I Saved Jan When His Heart Stopped
- Scene 1, There's Fluid in Jan's Head
- Scene 2, Red Boat
- Scene 3, Be Gone from the House of God
- Scene 3, Who's a Tart?
- Scene 3, Let This Be Over Now
- Scene 3, Prayer to a Sleeping God
- Scene 4, Complete the Task
- Scene 4, My Poor Darling
- Scene 5, Doctor's Report
- Scene 5, You Deserve Your Place in Hell
- Epilogue, I've Stolen You Back
UPC: 1230000270076
Label: Houston Grand Opera
Release Date: 8.7.26
Format: CD
