Marking the tenth anniversary of it's 2016 premiere, Houston Grand Opera unveils the first commercial recording of Breaking the Waves, Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's landmark opera. Long acclaimed as one of the most important American operas of the past decade, this release brings the work's searing emotional world to a global audience, making it accessible beyond the stage for the first time. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the early 1970s, Breaking the Waves tells the story of Bess McNeill, a religious young woman with a deep love for her husband Jan, a handsome oil rig worker. When Jan becomes paralyzed in an off-shore accident, Bess's marital vows are put to the test as he encourages her to seek other lovers and return to his bedside to tell him of her sexual activities. He insists that the stories will feel like they are making love together and keep him alive. Bess's increasing selflessness leads to a finale of divine grace, but at great cost. Led by conductor Patrick Summers, the new recording features some of today's most compelling operatic voices, including Lauren Snouffer as Bess McNeill and Ryan McKinny as Jan Nyman. Hailed by The New Yorker as a "once-in-a-generation magician of the orchestra", Mazzoli brings a distinctive musical voice that has established Breaking the Waves as a modern classic.

Tracklist:

Prologue, His Name is Jan
Prologue, We Do Not Favor Matrimony With Outsiders
Scene 1, Wedding
Scene 2, Ring the Bells
Scene 2, Golden Heart
Scene 2, We Two People are Joined in God
Scene 3, The Gift of Jan
Scene 3, Your Body is a Map
Scene 4, I Wish that the Church Had Bells
Scene 4, We Endure
Scene 4, I Thank You for Your Love
Scene 5, Prayer of a Selfish Girl
Interlude, Drill Deep, Men
Scene 6, Phone Booth
Scene 6, Prayer for Jan to Come Home
Scene 7, Accident
Scene 7, What is it Now, Bess?
Scene 1, Your Husband Has Suffered Serious Injuries
Scene 1, Goodness, What Powers You Possess
Scene 2, Love of My Life
Interlude, Wives, Submit Yourselves unto Your Own Husbands
Scene 3, Jan, What Have You Done?
Scene 3, Love Will Keep Me Alive
Scene 3, I'm Tired of Waiting
Scene 4, I Brought Supplies
Scene 4, I am Lying on My Back
Scene 5, DrRichardson, I've Come to Dance
Scene 5, We Breathe, We Drip, We Bleed
Scene 1, My Body is a Map
Scene 1, Feeble Girl
Scene 1, I Saved Jan When His Heart Stopped
Scene 1, There's Fluid in Jan's Head
Scene 2, Red Boat
Scene 3, Be Gone from the House of God
Scene 3, Who's a Tart?
Scene 3, Let This Be Over Now
Scene 3, Prayer to a Sleeping God
Scene 4, Complete the Task
Scene 4, My Poor Darling
Scene 5, Doctor's Report
Scene 5, You Deserve Your Place in Hell
Epilogue, I've Stolen You Back

UPC: 1230000270076
Label: Houston Grand Opera
Release Date: 8.7.26
Format: CD

[PRE-ORDER] Houston Grand Opera / Patrick Summers - Mazzoli: Breaking The Waves (CD)