Experience the captivating world of Kevin Puts' "The Hours," a stunning live recording of his acclaimed opera that first premiered in November 2022. This two-act masterpiece, based on Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is brought to life with a libretto by Greg Pierce and a score that seamlessly weaves together the lives of three remarkable women across different eras. With a runtime of over two hours, this album offers an immersive journey through the shifting perspectives and interconnected dimensions of the opera's heroines.
"The Hours" is a testament to Kevin Puts' extraordinary compositional prowess, earning him critical acclaim and a dedicated following. The opera's return to the Metropolitan Opera stage in 2024, with eight performances, underscores its enduring appeal and the depth of its storytelling. Each track on this live album captures the raw energy and precision of the performances, transporting you to the heart of the action.
From the haunting prologue "Flowers... Flowers" to the poignant finale "All Along?", the album showcases the opera's rich tapestry of characters and themes. The live recording format allows you to experience the opera's powerful moments as if you were there in the audience, with the chorus and principal singers delivering breathtaking performances.
This album is a must-listen for fans of opera, classical music, and compelling storytelling. Kevin Puts' "The Hours" is a triumph of modern opera, and this live recording is a testament to its enduring power and beauty.
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: Prologue. "Flowers... Flowers" (Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Platters! - What’s That, Babe?" (Clarissa, Sally, Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Denyce Graves, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "She Pauses at Its Threshold…" (Chorus, Clarissa, Man Under the Arch, Walter, Virginia) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, John Holiday, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Tony Stevenson, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Go Slowly. Ignore Your Novel" (Virginia, Clarissa, Chorus, Leonard) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "There's the Scowl" (Virginia, Leonard, Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Clarissa! - Barbara!" (Barbara, Clarissa, Chorus, Virginia, Leonard) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Kathleen Kim, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Richmond… She Opens the Curtains" (Virginia, Chorus, Man Under the Arch) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, John Holiday, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Missus Dalloway Said She Would Buy the Flowers Herself" (Laura, Virginia, Chorus, Dan, Richie) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brandon Cedel, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Oh Dan. Roses? On Your Birthday?" (Laura, Dan, Richie, Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brandon Cedel, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "You Know What We’re Going to Do?" (Laura, Virginia, Richie, Clarissa) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Here on This Corner" (Clarissa) [Live]Kevin Puts, Renée Fleming, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Good Morning, My Love!" (Clarissa, Richard, Angelica, Quentin, Julian) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Atticus Ware, Kyle Ketelsen, Lena Josephine Marano, Patrick Scott McDermott, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "We Need Four Cups" (Laura, Richie, Chorus, Nelly, Virginia) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Eve Gigliotti, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "Oh! A Reminder, Ma’am, Your Sister's Coming at Two" (Nelly, Virginia, Richie, Laura, Kitty, Chorus, Angelica, Quentin, Julian, Man Under the Arch) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Atticus Ware, Eve Gigliotti, John Holiday, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Lena Josephine Marano, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Patrick Scott McDermott, Sylvia D'Eramo, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 1: "...’Cause I’m Going to Die" (Chorus, Clarissa, Sally) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Denyce Graves, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Heaven? Somebody Else’s Heaven?" (Chorus, Laura, Hotel Clerk) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, John Holiday, Kelli O'Hara, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Did It Matter Then, She Asked Herself" (Laura, Virginia) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Kelli O'Hara, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "It's Happened - I Thought I’d Be Overjoyed, Richard!" (Leonard, Clarissa, Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Louis? - Clarissa. Caught Me Smoking" (Clarissa, Louis, Chorus) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Renée Fleming, William Burden, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Ent(ha)da oikeîs en te ge" (Chorus, Angelica, Quentin, Julian, Virginia, Vanessa, Laura) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Atticus Ware, Joyce DiDonato, Kelli O'Hara, Lena Josephine Marano, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Patrick Scott McDermott, Sylvia D'Eramo, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Richard! Get Down from There" (Clarissa, Richard) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Kyle Ketelsen, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "For Alone You Are Holy…" (Chorus, Man Under the Arch) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, John Holiday, Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Mm... ’Stead of Jousting You’d Rather…" (Mrs. Latch, Richie, Laura, Clarissa, Virginia, Leonard, Nelly) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Eve Gigliotti, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kathleen Kim, Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "Happy My Birthday!" (Dan, Richie, Walter, Sally, Louis, Clarissa, Virginia, Leonard, Laura) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brandon Cedel, Denyce Graves, Joyce DiDonato, Kai Edgar, Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Tony Stevenson, William Burden, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "This Is My Partner, Sally" (Clarissa, Sally, Laura, Dan, Leonard) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Brandon Cedel, Denyce Graves, Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming, Sean Panikkar, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Puts: The Hours, Act 2: "All Along?" (Clarissa, Laura, Virginia) [Live]Kevin Puts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Kevin Puts is a renowned American composer who has made a significant impact on the contemporary classical music scene. Born on January 3, 1972, Puts has garnered international acclaim for his rich, cinematic compositions that often blend the narrative depth of opera with the grandeur of symphonic works. His breakthrough came with the opera "Silent Night," which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2012, establishing him as a leading voice in modern opera. Puts' collaborations with librettist Mark Campbell have been particularly notable, including the operas "The Hours" and "Elizabeth Cree." In 2023, he added a Grammy Award to his accolades for his concerto "Contact." Puts' educational background includes degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Yale, and he has been a member of the Peabody Institute composition faculty. His works are celebrated for their emotional resonance and technical virtuosity, making him a standout figure in contemporary classical music.