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13 Ensemble cast in Cold Mountain. Photo Ken Howard for Santa Fe Opera, 2015.

Cold Mountain 2015

August 1 - 22, 2015

What is at the Center of Your Soul?

The eagerly anticipated first opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon tells a tale of love, war, and endurance that has enthralled millions: Cold Mountain, based on Charles Frazier’s international best-seller. Inman experiences a personal odyssey in the midst of the Civil War as he makes his way back to his beloved Ada.

Music By
Jennifer Higdon
Libretto By
Gene Scheer

Synopsis

Act I

Teague, the leader of the local Home Guard, is hunting down Civil War deserters.

W.P. Inman, a Confederate soldier, decides to desert and return home to his beloved Ada. On his journey, Inman meets Solomon Veasey, whom he stops from committing murder. Meanwhile, the once-privileged Ada lives a life of deprivation at Black Cove Farm until she meets Ruby, a mountain woman who teaches Ada about farming and surviving.

Inman reencounters Veasey near a river while fleeing the Home Guard, and bargains with him for passage across the water. Fate and weather conspire against the pair, who cap­size and drift downriver. The next morning, Lila and her three sisters stumble upon the two men. Lila’s husband drugs Inman and Veasey before giving them up to the Home Guard. The men are put on a chain gang of deserters.

Back at the farm, Ruby finds her estranged father Stobrod trying to steal food. She wants nothing to do with him, despite his assertions that he has changed. When Teague approaches, Ruby hides her father, but later orders him to stay away.

Meanwhile, Inman starts an insurrection, but the guards shoot the entire chain gang and leave. A wounded Inman is the lone survivor. He relives the day he bid Ada farewell, but the memory dissolves to the gruesome reality of the war: Inman, chained to six dead men, loses consciousness.

Act II

Lucinda, a runaway slave, is rifling through the pockets of the dead prisoners when Inman stirs and startles her. She frees him, and Inman continues his journey.

Back at Black Cove Farm, Stobrod and his travelling com­panion Pangle are still relying upon Ruby and Ada for sustenance. Stobrod tries to convince Ruby that he is a new man, but she remains skeptical.

Inman now happens upon Sara, a war widow, who is trying desperately to comfort her baby. Inman helps her, gains her trust, and is invited to spend the night.

At Black Cove Farm, Teague appears. He has brought a copy of the newspaper that lists the names of deserters. Ruby sees her father’s name, as Teague intended.

The next morning, Inman and Sara must react quickly when Union soldiers appear.

At a campfire in the woods, Teague and his men confront Stobrod and Pangle. Both men are shot and left for dead.

Ada goes hunting deep in the woods, where she and Inman finally reunite. Although both are deeply altered by the war, they manage to promise themselves to each other – but Teague is not done pursuing deserters. And the next morn­ing when they wake, they are unaware that it will be the last morning they spend together…

Artists

Nathan Gunn headshot

Nathan Gunn

Baritone

W.P. Inman

Isabel Leonard headshot

Isabel Leonard

Mezzo-soprano

Ada Monroe

Emily-Fons

Emily Fons

Mezzo-soprano

Ruby Thewes

Jay Hunter Morris headshot

Jay Hunter Morris

Tenor

Teague

Roger Honeywell headshot

Roger Honeywell

Tenor

Solomon Veasey

Kevin Burdette headshot

Kevin Burdette

Bass

Stobrod Thewes/A Blind Man

Anthony Michaels-Moore headshot

Anthony Michaels-Moore

Baritone

Monroe/Pangle

Robert Pomakov headshot

Robert Pomakov

Bass

Owens/Ethan

Deborah Nansteel headshot

Deborah Nansteel

Mezzo-Soprano

Lucinda

Adrian Kramer headshot

Adrian Kramer

Tenor

Owens' Son

Andrea Núñez headshot

Andrea Núñez

Soprano

Laura

Bridgette Gan headshot

Bridgette Gan

Soprano

Lila

Heather Phillips headshot

Heather Phillips

Soprano

Katie

Shabnam Kalbasi headshot

Shabnam Kalbasi

Mezzo-soprano

Olivia

Megan Marino

Megan Marino

Mezzo-Soprano

Claire

Daniel Bates headshot

Daniel Bates

Tenor

Junior/Charlie

Roy Hage headshot

Roy Hage

Tenor

Reid/Chain Gang Guard

Chelsea Basler headshot

Chelsea Basler

Soprano

Sara

Tyler Putnam headshot

Tyler Putnam

Bass

Thomas

Miguel Harth-Bedoya headshot

Miguel Harth-Bedoya

Conductor

Leonard Foglia headshot

Leonard Foglia

Director

Robert Brill headshot

Robert Brill

Scenic Designer

David C. Woolard headshot

David C. Woolard

Costume Designer

Brian Nason headshot

Brian Nason

Lighting Designer

Elaine J. McCarthy headshot

Elaine J. McCarthy

Projection Designer

Rick Sordelet headshot

Rick Sordelet

Fight & Intimacy Director

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master