Mark Adamo's Little Women
by Lauren Rico
April 12, 2002

	Click images to enlarge.
	Adriana Zabala, mezzo-soprano, performs an aria, with Laura Loewen on piano.
	Composer Mark Adamo (left) expresses his thoughts and experiences of creating the work.
	Adriana Zabala and Carlos Archuleta, baritone, share a duet.
	© Minnesota Public Radio by Amy Hoelmer

Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are a close-knit group. But, as time goes on, things change. Much to Jo's dismay, she is unable to keep things just as they are. It is this struggle against the inevitable progression of time that is the foundation of Adamo's version of the story.

Since its world premiere by the Houston Grand Opera in 2000, Little Women has enjoyed productions in Missouri, California, Virginia, Colorado, and Nebraska. It was also featured on the PBS series Great Performances.

While in town, Mark Adamo stopped by Minnesota Public Radio's Maud Moon Weyerhauser Studio to chat with Lauren Rico about the opera and the novel from which he adapted it.

Listen to the composer's comments.

View a slideshow of the session.

Hear three arias from the opera performed by cast members:
1. "There was a Knight, Once"
—Carlos Archuleta, baritone; Laura Loewen, piano
Listen

2. "Things Change, Jo"
—Adriana Zabala, mezzo-soprano; Laura Loewen, piano
Listen

3. "Do you Know the Land Where the Lemon Trees Bloom?" (German and English)
—Ryan Kinsella, baritone; Laura Loewen piano
Listen

—Scott Liebers, engineer
—Silvester Vicic, session producer

More About the Opera and the Composer
• Minnesota Opera
• Mark Adamo: Information about the composer from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associated Music Publishers Inc.
• "Mark Adamo's first opera, Little Women, scores a big success": From Usoperaweb.com
• "A Conversation with Mark Adamo, Composer of the Opera Little Women": From Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity