A New Faustian Opera: "If I Were You"
Composer Jake Heggie, conductor Nicole Paiement and dramaturg Clifford Cranna share insights into the creation of Heggie’s "If I Were You,” a Faustian story that delves into issues of identity and a quest for one’s place in the world that are at once timeless and very relevant to the world today. As the hero, Fabian becomes a wealthy older man, a young handsome brute and eventually a young woman. The opera deals with issues of age, power, sexual politics and gender identity. Commissioned by the renowned Merola Opera Program, the world premiere of "If I Were You” is on August 2019 at Herbst Theatre.
MLF Organizer: Anne W. Smith
MLF: Arts
Jake Heggie
Composer, “Dead Man Walking,” “Moby-Dick,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Great Scott,” “Three Decembers,” “Out of Darkness: Two Remain” and “The Radio Hour”
Clifford “Kip” Cranna
Dramaturg, San Francisco Opera
Nicole Paiement
Founder and Artistic Director, Opera Parallèle; Conductor, the Dallas Opera
