How ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Became an Opera

In Tune

Composer Jake Heggie has turned the classic Christmas movie, about desperate George Bailey and Clarence the angel, into an opera—inspired by his own father’s suicide.

Published Dec. 1 2016 1:00AM EST

articles/2016/12/01/how-it-s-a-wonderful-life-became-an-opera/161130-Milnes-its-a-wonderful-life-tease_xlnatr — via Photofest

There have been several operas based on short stories or books that became movies recently including Brokeback Mountain (2014), and Minnesota Opera’s The Shining (2016).

But nothing has quite the popular resonance of It’s

Shawn E. Milnes

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How ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Became an Opera

Composer Jake Heggie has turned the classic Christmas movie, about desperate George Bailey and Clarence the angel, into an opera—inspired by his own father’s suicide.

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Shawn E. Milnes