Jack Beeson

Jack Beeson's twentieth century opera Lizzie Borden, a family portrait in three acts, premiered at the City Opera of New York on March 25, 1965. The drama is set in three acts, and tells the story of Lizzie Borden, accused and tried, but acquitted, of the axe murder of her stepmother and birth father. The setting is Fall River, MA, in the 1880s, and encompasses the murder of Lizzie's parents, the trial, Lizzie's rejection by the Fall River community, and her descent into madness. The libretto was written by Kenward Elmslie, and based on a scenario by Richard Plant. In this version, the tragedy of Lizzie Borden is the tragedy of a failed family unit. Both stepmother and father psychologically abused the children, forcing one to escape into marriage, and the other to commit a heinous crime. Beeson has put together a highly evocative score, using twentieth century impressionistic musical idioms, traditional hymn tunes, folk ballads, and complex vocal ensembles. Several scenes highlight the tragic figure of Lizzie, who eventually goes mad, living the remainder of her life in exiled solitude.