Our own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin goes all-American with a performance of The Ballad of Baby Doe starring Ruth Ann Swenson, James Morris and Judith Forst.

Douglas Moore/John Latouche: The Ballad of Baby Doe

San Francisco Opera
Stefan Lano, conductor
23 September 2000

In-house recording

Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe – Ruth Ann Swenson
Horace Tabor. Mayor of Leadville – James Morris
Augusta, wife of Horace Tabor – Judith Forst
Mama McCourt, Baby Doe’s mother – Josepha Gayer
Samantha, a maid – Sara Lamar MacBride
Silver Dollar, daughter of Horace and Baby Doe – Tina Osinski
William Jennings Bryan, Democratic presidential candidate – John Fanning
President Chester A. Arthur – Daniel Harper
Father Chapelle – Jim Croom

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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