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170:), which also deals with the gold rush period. According to Sellars, "These true stories of the Forty-Niners are overwhelming in their heroism, passion and cruelty, telling tales of racial conflicts, colorful and humorous exploits, political strife and struggles to build anew a life and to decide what it would mean to be American."
150:. Adams wrote, "To be able to set to music the authentic voices of these people, whether from their letters or their songs or from newspaper accounts from their time, is a great privilege for me." Sellars, who also directed the opera, conceived the libretto while doing research for a production of
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Gutenberg Project scanned page images from "The Shirley Letters from California Mines in 1851-52" published in 1922 by Thomas C. Russell
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Dame
Shirley. The libretto is also sourced from other literature of the period, including newspaper articles and the writings of
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in Venice. The opera was premiered in San
Francisco on November 21, 2017. The running time is 160 minutes.
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Sellars's previous collaborations with Adams have included premiere productions of
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569:"Out of the Shadows: Louise Clappe's Life and Early California Writings"
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In
January 2023 two live performances of the opera, performed at
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130:The opera is inspired by the 1851/1852 letters of
476:and conducted by the composer were recorded for
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191:(for which Sellars also wrote the libretto).
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1208:Opera world premieres at San Francisco Opera
656:"RECENSIE: Adams – Girls of the Golden West"
567:Smith-Barazini, Marlene (Winter 1999–2000).
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142:. Clappe published the letters under the
658:, 3 March 2019, accessed 19 January 2023
533:. Boosey & Hawkes (music publishers)
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955:Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?
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1052:Choruses from The Death of Klinghoffer
782:The Gospel According to the Other Mary
531:"'John Adams Girls of the Golden West"
645:, 14 June 2016, accessed 15 June 2016
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110:commissioned the work jointly with
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1198:Operas set in the United States
1193:Operas by John Adams (composer)
674:, including scoring, synopsis;
1203:Operas set in the 19th century
1059:On the Transmigration of Souls
212:21 November - 10 December 2017
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988:John's Book of Alleged Dances
843:Short Ride in a Fast Machine
458:Dutch National Opera Chorus
878:My Father Knew Charles Ives
864:Naive and Sentimental Music
461:Los Angeles Master Chorale
455:San Francisco Opera Chorus
234:Los Angeles Premiere Cast,
224:28 February - 17 March 2019
167:The Girl of the Golden West
94:in two acts with music by
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1213:Operas based on literature
118:(De Nationale Opera) and
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789:Girls of the Golden West
747:The Death of Klinghoffer
678:Girls of the Golden West
609:Girls of the Golden West
607:"John Adams's New Opera
507:Girls of the Golden West
474:Walt Disney Concert Hall
236:27 & 29 January 2023
222:European Premiere cast,
182:The Death of Klinghoffer
136:Diamondville, California
87:Girls of the Golden West
21:Girls of the Golden West
871:Guide to Strange Places
676:"John Adams introduces
552:Shirley, Dame (1970).
452:Chorus of Male Voices
442:Carlos García Estévez
929:The Dharma at Big Sur
511:. San Francisco Opera
509:– production details"
157:La fanciulla del West
1012:Other ensemble works
796:Antony and Cleopatra
140:California Gold Rush
116:Dutch National Opera
1091:Hallelujah Junction
1027:Grand Pianola Music
829:The Chairman Dances
684:Boosey & Hawkes
615:Boosey & Hawkes
554:The Shirley Letters
321:March 13 & 17)
126:Composition history
108:San Francisco Opera
76:San Francisco Opera
942:Saxophone Concerto
850:Slonimsky's Earbox
642:The New York Times
573:California History
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1020:American Standard
903:The Wound-Dresser
613:(Press release).
556:. Peregine Press.
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449:Chorus of Miners
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72:November 21, 2017
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1133:Related articles
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806:Orchestral works
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326:Paul Appleby
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314:Paul Appleby
309:Paul Appleby
294:Davóne Tines
289:Davóne Tines
284:Davóne Tines
249:Dame Shirley
238:(Conductor:
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226:(Conductor:
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112:Dallas Opera
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1188:2017 operas
1084:China Gates
1069:Piano works
995:Road Movies
895:Concertante
621:October 26,
617:. June 2016
537:January 21,
515:October 26,
415:Lola Montez
300:Joe Cannon
275:Ned Peters
1182:Categories
1115:Film score
915:Eros Piano
725:John Adams
611:Announced"
484:References
240:John Adams
206:Voice type
160:(based on
148:Mark Twain
96:John Adams
37:Librettist
31:John Adams
1123:I Am Love
1045:Harmonium
885:City Noir
468:Recording
349:Clarence
593:25462581
433:Fayette
393:baritone
335:soprano
332:Ah Sing
144:pen name
100:libretto
68:Premiere
55:Based on
47:Language
761:El Niño
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254:soprano
58:Letters
50:English
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