Everlasting Faint

Music by Scott Gendel
Libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand

A world premiere

sung in English with projected text

Friday, February 13 at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 15 at 2:30pm
Capitol Theater

The ghosts of the murdered will have their revenge.

A young woman has died of unknown natural causes – or so the doctor declares. Her ghost returns and tells her mother that her husband murdered her. Shaken and resolute, her mother embarks on a journey to find out the truth and deliver justice for her daughter.

Based on the true story of the 1897 Greenbrier Ghost, Everlasting Faint is a ghost story, a maternal love story, a true crime drama, and an all-American opera. Don’t miss this world premiere by Madison composer Scott Gendel and librettist Sandra Flores-Strand.

Approximate run time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including 1 intermission
Click to read a plot synopsis.

Content warning: contains references to domestic violence and the description of an autopsy

Join the Friends of Everlasting Faint! Click here to read about how you can support Everlasting Faint and help bring this remarkable new opera to the stage in Madison.

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Katherine Pracht

Mary Heaster

Tori Tedeschi Adams

Elva Heaster Shue

Andrew Bidlack

Trout Shue

Emily Birsan

Martha Jones

Alan Dunbar

Dr. Knapp

Matthew Treviño

John Preston

Robert A. Goderich

Mr. Gardner

Alexandra Burch

Lucy

Madison Barrett

Allie

Ryan Nash

David Gassaway

Lifan Deng

Gregory Snodegar

Stephanie Rhodes Russell

Conductor

Keturah Stickann

Stage Director / Dramaturg

Scott Gendel

Composer

Sandra Flores-Strand

Librettist

Watch the Digital Preview

Join General Director Kathryn Smith and composer Scott Gendel online for a multimedia preview of Everlasting Faint, as they look at the history of the Greenbrier Ghost, discuss how he and Sandra Flores-Strand turned a true crime into an opera, play recordings of the score, and discuss Madison Opera’s production. Cast pet photos included, as always!

Watch now on YouTube.

Listen to the music

“Little Sparrow”
from Everlasting Faint
Music by Scott Gendel
Libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand

Act II of Everlasting Faint opens with “Little Sparrow,” a folk song-inspired piece sung by the chorus and leading characters. Here it is performed by Madison Opera Studio Artists Alexandra Burch, Madison Barrett, Ryan Nash, and Lifan Deng, with composer Scott Gendel on piano.

Watch now on YouTube.

Trout’s Act I Aria
from Everlasting Faint
Music by Scott Gendel
Libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand

In the first scene of Everlasting Faint, the town doctor is called to the home of Elva Heaster Shue, a young woman who has just died. Upon the doctor’s arrival, Elva’s husband, Trout Shue, in despair over her death, prevents the doctor from conducting an examination to determine the cause of death. Here is that scene, performed by Madison Opera Studio Artists Ryan Nash (Trout Shue) and Lifan Deng (Dr. Knapp), with composer Scott Gendel on piano.

Watch now on YouTube.

“That Devil Killed Her”
from Everlasting Faint
Music by Scott Gendel
Libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand

Following the funeral of her daughter Elva, Mary washes out an odd stain in the scarf her daughter was wearing when she died, when she suddenly hears Elva’s voice calling to her. Mary realizes that Elva’s husband Trout killed her, and in the aria “That Devil Killed Her,” reflects on how women die, praying for guidance to find justice. Here it is performed by Madison Opera Studio Artist Madison Barrett with composer Scott Gendel on piano.

Watch now on YouTube.

Prayer Duet
from Everlasting Faint
Music by Scott Gendel
Libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand

Near the end of Act I of Everlasting Faint, Mary Heaster and Martha Jones have contemplative moments alone in their homes, as each say their evening prayers. Mary expresses her gratitude for the visitations from her daughter’s ghost.

Performed by Madison Opera Studio Artists Madison Barrett (Mary Heaster) and Alexandra Burch (Martha Jones), with composer Scott Gendel on piano.

Watch now on YouTube.