American composer Jake Heggie’s compelling masterpiece, the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years, arrives in cinemas on October 21 in a haunting new production by Ivo van Hove. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir about her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer, Dead Man Walking matches the high drama of its subject with Heggie’s beautiful and poignant music and a brilliant libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato starring as Sister Helen. The outstanding cast also features bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as the death-row inmate Joseph De Rocher, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose, and legendary mezzo-soprano Susan Graham—who sang Helen Prejean in the opera’s 2000 premiere—as De Rocher’s mother. This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.
Content Advisory: Dead Man Walking contains a depiction of a rape and murder, as well as other adult themes and strong language.
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“WILD APPLAUSE AND STANDING OVATIONS… Dead Man Walking makes its arresting Met debut … The finest and most engaged work I’ve ever seen or heard from Joyce DiDonato … Ryan McKinny sang the role of De Rocher with figurative and literal muscular force … Revelatory singing … Commandingly conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.” —The Washington Post
“Death-row drama brings audience to tears … DiDonato is lustrous … Susan Graham is deeply moving. The orchestra’s playing is flowing andpassionate. ****” —Financial Times
“A brilliant premiere … With its emotional depth and powerful storytelling, the haunting new production left the audience spellbound.” —Vogue
“Soaring music … powerful feelings … A smartly airy production at the Met by Ivo van Hove … Charismatic stars in DiDonato and McKinny, and lavish playing from the orchestra … Affecting.” —The New York Times
