The Live Performance – Monday, May 10th, 3 p.m. 

Please join the Tucson Desert Song Festival for the World Premiere of What I Miss the Most, a song cycle composed by Jake Heggie and performed by Jamie Barton, who will be accompanied by Heggie himself. The texts for this song cycle, which was commissioned by the Tucson Desert Song Festival, were contributed by Joyce DiDonato, Patti LuPone, Sister Helen Prejean, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and  Kathleen Kelly.

Jake Heggie is the composer of the operas Dead Man Walking, Moby-Dick, It’s A Wonderful Life, If I Were You, Great Scott, Three Decembers and Two Remain, among others. He has also composed nearly 300 songs, as well as chamber, choral and orchestral works. The operas – most created with Gene Scheer or the late Terrence McNally – have been produced on five continents.

Jamie Barton is a critically acclaimed American opera singer, known worldwide for her radiant mezzo-soprano voice.  Ms. Barton was named 2020 Personality of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards.  She was also the winner of the Beverly Sills Artist Award, the Richard Tucker Award, both Main and Song Prizes at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was a Grammy nominee.  Ms. Barton’s operatic engagements have included appearances with many of the world’s most-loved opera houses.

This brilliant song cycle will be performed live and will also be available as as a “virtual recital” shortly after the live offering.  Because of the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, attendance at the live performance will be limited.  If you wish to attend, please email Tucson Desert Song Festival Board President, Jeannette Segel, at [email protected].  Be sure to include your contact information with your request.

Tickets will be available at no cost on a first come, first-served basis, so, regrettably, we are unable to guarantee that all ticket requests can be honored.  An email will be sent to you regarding the status of your ticket request.

Seating will be socially distanced, and masks will be required.

The Virtual Recital – Thursday, May 20th, 6 p.m. Pacific / 9:00 p.m. Eastern

This performance will also be available at no cost as a “virtual recital” on Thursday, May 20th at 6 p.m. Pacific / 9 p.m. Eastern

Click play (the right-pointing triangle) below to view the virtual recital. 

Recital Program and Text and Translations

Click here to view the Program for this recital, as well as the Text and Translations of the music sung by Ms. Barton.