Virgil Thomson

Possibly the most important operatic composer of the early twentieth century, Thomson's two collaborations with Gertrude Stein have overshadowed his final opera, Lord Byron. A fourth opera, based on Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, was never completed.

In addition to his compositions, Thomson's writings on music were highly influential to a generation of young composers.

• Four Saints in Three Acts, opera in four acts
  Libretto by Gertrude Stein.
  February 8, 1934, Avery Theater, Hartford, Connecticut
• The Duchess of Malfi
  Libretto after the play by John Webster.
  composed c. 1938
  [incomplete]
• The Mother Of Us All, opera in two acts
  Libretto by Gertrude Stein.
  May 7, 1947, Brander Matthews Hall, Columbia University, New York, New York
• Lord Byron, opera in three acts and an epilogue
  Libretto by Jack Larson.
  April 20, 1972, The Julliard Theater, Lincoln Center, New York, New York

Discography

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Virgil Thomson Lord Byron Monadonck Music/Bolle 2 CD / Koch International Classics 3-7124-2Y6x2 (1992)	Virgil Thomson The Mother of Us All Leppard 2 CD / New World 80288 (1992)
Virgil Thomson Four Saints In Three Acts (abridged) (with The Plow That Broke the Plains) Stokowski CD / BMG/RCA Victor 68163 (1996)	Excerpts from Lord Byron on Virgil Thomson Orchestral Works Martyn Hill, Budapest Symphony Orch./Bolle CD / Albany 17 (1994)
Virgil Thomson Four Saints In Three Acts Orchestra of Our Time 2 CD / Nonesuch 79035 (1992)

Bibliography

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"I say never again" from The Mother Of Us All in G. Schirmer American Opera Anthology: Mezzo-Soprano G. Schirmer 2004

"Angel More" from The Mother of Us All "Once in a while" from Four Saints in Three Acts "What what is it" from The Mother of Us All in G. Schirmer American Opera Anthology: Baritone/Bass G. Schirmer 2004

Last update: January 1, 2009