American Mother

opera
2024/25

“Haunting, deeply moving… Bray’s ​‘American Mother’ is a work that touches the heart with a theme that moves us all:
the rejection of violence, revenge, and hatred.” — Der Opernfreund

Duration c. 80’
Instrumentation soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass – chorus – orchestra: 2.2.2.2-4.3.2.1-3P-Hp-Strings (98543)
First Performance 31 May 2025, Theatre Hagen, Germany; Joseph Trafton music director more info
Libretto by Colum McCann, based on a book by Diane Foley and Colum McCann
Directed by Travis Preston
Commissioned by Theater Hagen

Further Performances
9, 14, 18, 27 June 2025 Theatre Hagen, Germany

Katharine Goeldner as Diane Foley
Timothy Connor as Alexanda Kotey
Roman Payer as James Foley
Angela Davis as Mrs. Kotey
Dong-Won Seo as Prison Guard

Musikalische Leitung Joseph Trafton
Inszenierung Travis Preston
Bühne und Kostüme Christopher Barreca
Videodesign Ruey Horng Sun
Licht Martin Gehrke
Chor Julian Wolf
Dramaturgie Francis Hüsers Thomas Rufin
Regieassistenz / Abendspielleitung Tobias Kramm
Inspizienz Jonathan Rupprecht
Chor des Theaters Hagen
Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen

Charlotte has a worldwide, exclusive publishing agreement with Birdsong

American Mother is a story of grief, loss, terror, war, motherhood, faith, and forgiveness. Based on the book of the same name, American Mother tells the true story of Diane Foley, the mother of murdered American war correspondent James Foley, as she sits down to talk to the man convicted of brutally imprisoning and beheading her son. The opera takes place in one day (2021), yet moves back and forth over the years, alternating between scenes of Diane and her son’s killer – Alexander Kotey – and scenes of James held captive, 7 years earlier.  

https://www.harrisonparrott.com/birdsong/american-mother-opera