IOA stages “The Ballad of Baby Doe”
Published: September 21, 2009
One of the most famous American operas makes its Montana debut with Intermountain Opera Association’s fall production of "The Ballad of Baby Doe,” 7 p.m. Oct. 9 and 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at Willson Auditorium in Bozeman.
Set in the Colorado silver mines in the 1880s and 1890s, Douglas Moore’s opera tells the rags-to-riches-to-rags-again story of Horace Tabor, who abandons his wife, Augusta, for the beautiful young woman known as Baby Doe.
The love story is played out against the collapse of the free silver movement, which had an enormous impact on mining communities throughout the West. Moore’s music brings to life a boom-and-bust “story arc” familiar in many Rocky Mountain mining communities.
The IOA has hired national stars for several leading roles: Heather Buck, who sings at the Metropolitan Opera as Baby Doe; Robert Orth, a leading baritone in opera companies around the country, and recipient of “Singer of the Year” awards from both New York City Opera and the Seattle Opera for his role as Horace Tabor; and the renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle, who has sung the role of Augusta Tabor more than any other mezzo in recent years. In addition, contralto Edith Dowd will sing the role of Mama McCourt while Billings native Christopher Johnson is William Jennings Bryan.
The smaller parts in the complex story of love, betrayal and silver mining have been cast locally. Local theatrical designers are also having a moment in the sun with this production. The IOA usually rents a scenery and costume package from a company in New York City, but since that firm doesn’t produce American operas, Bozeman theatrical wizard Michael Hillenius is designing and constructing sets for “Baby Doe.”
Costume coordinator Madeline Garcia is borrowing and renting costumes from various sources but will be designing and making others with the help of her crew of volunteer seamstresses.
Tickets are available by calling 406-587-2889 or online at http://www.operabozeman.org.
