Judy Berry - Moore: THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE, Willow Song, Binghamton 1987, High D

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THE SONGBIRD: Judy Berry received her Masters of Music from Binghamton University in New York and sang many roles with the local company, Tri-Cities Opera including Violetta, Nedda, Gilda, Juliette, Lakmé, and Lucia. She was in the company of the world premiere of John Adams’ "Nixon in China" at the Houston Grand Opera in 1987 and continued with its tour around the world. Berry sang regionally with opera companies in Baltimore, Knoxville, Mississippi, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Ithaca, and Berkshire.

THE MUSIC: "The Ballad of Baby Doe" remains the most popular of Douglas Moore's full-length operas (the others are "The Devil and Daniel Webster," "The Wings of the Dove," and "Carrie Nation"). The opera is set in Colorado and the world premiere took place there, at the Central City Opera in 1956 with sopranos Dolores Wilson and Leyna Gabriele alternating in the title role. In 1958, a young Beverly Sills established herself by starring in a slightly revised version produced by the New York City Opera, which was commercially recorded. The story is set in the late 19th century and follows three historical figures: Horace Tabor, a politician and wealthy mine owner, leaves his wife Augusta to marry Elizabeth "Baby" Doe. The vocal writing for Baby Doe does not contain any florid coloratura figures per se, yet it has such a high tessitura that it is usually sung by lyric-coloratura sopranos who can handle the many high silvery suspensions, including a High D in Baby Doe's first aria, "The Willow Song."