Connection: Three Song Cycles of Jake Heggie (Digital Download)

Famed for his operatic music, Jake Heggie has always been a devoted and prolific songwriter. Three early song cycles for soprano and piano are featured in this release, each cycle exploring the many varied facets of the three women depicted, including Ophelia and Eve. Each was written for a specific singer and they all reflect Heggie’s personal and exciting lexicon of musical influences, ranging from folk and jazz, to art song and musical theater.

The three cycles are:

Natural Selection (1997)
Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia (1999)
Eve-Song (1996) – *first complete recording of this cycle

Track List:

Natural Selection (1997)
poetry by Gini Savage

1. Creation
2. Animal Passion
3. Alas! Alack!
4. Indian Summer – Blue
5. Joy Alone (Connection)

Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia (1999)
poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay and J Heggie

6. Ophelia’s Song
7. Women Have Loved Before
8. Not in a Silver Casket
9. Spring

Eve-Song (1996)
poetry by Philip Littell

10. My Name
11. Even
12. Good
13. Listen
14. Snake
15. Woe to Man
16. The Wound
17. The Farm