11
May
2024
Madama Butterfly
The Friedman Auditorium
130 W. College Ave. State College, PA
Jake Heggie
Dead Man Walking
Live Broadcast
American composer Jake Heggie’s compelling masterpiece, the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years, arrives in cinemas on October 21 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, Dead Man Walking matches the high drama of its subject with Heggie’s beautiful and poignant music and a brilliant libretto by Terrence McNally. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium, 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, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose, and legendary mezzo-soprano Susan Graham—who sang Helen Prejean in the opera’s 2000 premiere—as De Rocher’s mother.
Content Advisory Warning:
Dead Man Walking contains a depiction of a rape and murder, as well as other adult themes and strong language.
Estimated Run Time: 3h 14m
At The State Theatre, we have an active opera community, The State Theatre Opera Buffs. Every year it keeps growing and we’d love to see it continue. We offer great benefits for those that show their support by joining. The continuation of the opera broadcasts hinges on your support.
