Eugene Opera: Three Decembers

Composed by Jake Heggie • Libretto by Gene Scheer
Inspired by Some Christmas Letters by Terrence McNally

Eugene Opera proudly presents Three Decembers, Jake Heggie’s intimate American opera with libretto by Gene Scheer, based on Terrence McNally’s unpublished play Some Christmas Letters. Spanning three decades—1986, 1996, and 2006—the opera follows Broadway star Madeline Mitchell (performed by renowned mezzo-soprano Emily Pulley) and her two adult children, Beatrice and Charlie, as they confront long-buried secrets and navigate love, loss, and the longing for connection.

With Heggie’s lush, emotional score and Scheer’s sharp, moving libretto, this 90-minute chamber opera staged by acclaimed director David Gately is a heartfelt exploration of the families we are born into and the ones we create.

Three Decembers will also feature the Eugene Opera Orchestra conducted by Eugene Opera Artistic Director Andrew Bisantz.