Works & Process: Metropolitan Opera: Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie, libretto by Terrence McNally

Works & Process Presents
The Metropolitan Opera
"Dead Man Walking"
Music by Jake Heggie
Libretto by Terrence McNally
Based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean
GUESTS
Peter Gelb, Maria Manetti Shrem General Manager, Metropolitan Opera, Moderator
Sister Helen Prejean, Author
Ivo van Hove, Director
Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-Soprano
Eve Gigliotti, Mezzo-Soprano
Ryan McKinny, Bass-Baritone
Jonathan Kelly, Piano
PROGRAM NOTES
American composer Jake Heggie’s powerful "Dead Man Walking," the most widely performed new opera of the 21st century, has its highly anticipated Met premiere in a haunting new production by Ivo van Hove. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir about her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer, Heggie's masterpiece matches the high drama of its subject with beautiful and poignant music and a brilliant libretto by Terrence McNally. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for the landmark premiere, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato starring as Sister Helen. The outstanding cast also features bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as the death-row inmate Joseph De Rocher and legendary mezzo-soprano Susan Graham-who sang Helen Prejean in the opera’s 2000 premiere-as De Rocher’s mother.
"Dead Man Walking" runs for nine performances at the Met this season, from September 26 through October 21. For tickets and more information, visit metopera.org.
Production a gift of C. Graham Berwind, III; the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation; Ted Snowdon and Duffy Violante, in memory of Terrence McNally; and Mrs. Diane B. Wilsey
Additional support from Franci Neely; Judy and Jim Pohlman; Denise Littlefield Sobel, in memory of Phyllis Cannon Wattis; and The H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. and Oscar Tang Endowment Fund
Dead Man Walking is part of the Neubauer Family Foundation New Works Initiative
Yamaha is the official piano of Works & Process.