Premiered at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2022 - with Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming and Kelli O'Hara as it's stars - Kevin Puts's The Hours was praised by The New York Times as "sincere and persuasive... fervent... and soaringly lyrical". The opera returns to the Met's schedule in May 2024. Based on both the award-winning 2002 film directed by Stephen Daldry and the original novel by Michael Cunningham, The Hours interweaves characters and events from three different periods of the 20th century. Joyce DiDonato, who takes the pivotal role of writer Virginia Woolf, says that: "Even though it deals with death head-on, the piece is life-affirming and tells a timeless story. The characters' struggles are shared universally, and by highlighting them through the different personalities and periods, hopefully everybody can find a part of themselves in the story." This audio recording showcases the opera The Hours, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, which played to sold-out audiences at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City during it's world-premiere staged production last season. Featuring a libretto by Greg Pierce, adapted from Michael Cunningham's acclaimed novel and inspired by Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, the powerful story concerns three women from different eras who each grapple with their inner demons and roles in society. Joyce DiDonato (interpreting the role of Virginia Woolf) is joined by Renée Fleming as Clarissa Vaughan and Kelli O'Hara as Laura Brown, among others in this superstar cast, conducted by Yannick Nezet-Séguin.

Track List

1. Prologue. "Flowers... Flowers" (Chorus) [Live]
2. "Platters! - What's That Babe?" (Clarissa Sally Chorus) [Live]
3. "She Pauses at It's Threshold..." (Chorus Clarissa Man Under the Arch Walter Virginia) [Live]
4. "Go Slowly. Ignore Your Novel" (Virginia Clarissa Chorus Leonard) [Live]
5. "There's the Scowl" (Virginia Leonard Chorus) [Live]
6. "Clarissa! - Barbara!" (Barbara Clarissa Chorus Virginia Leonard) [Live]
7. "Richmond... She Opens the Curtains" (Virginia Chorus Man Under the Arch) [Live]
8. "Missus Dalloway Said She Would Buy the Flowers Herself" (Laura Virginia Chorus Dan Richie) [Live]
9. "Oh Dan. Roses? on Your Birthday?" (Laura Dan Richie Chorus) [Live]
10. "You Know What We're Going to Do?" (Laura Virginia Richie Clarissa) [Live]
11. "Here on This Corner" (Clarissa) [Live]
12. "Good Morning My Love!" (Clarissa Richard Angelica Quentin Julian) [Live]
13. "We Need Four Cups" (Laura Richie Chorus Nelly Virginia) [Live]
14. "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]
15. "...'Cause I'm Going to Die" (Chorus Clarissa Sally) [Live]
16. "Heaven? Somebody Else's Heaven?" (Chorus Laura Hotel Clerk) [Live]
17. "Did It Matter Then She Asked Herself" (Laura Virginia) [Live]
18. "It's Happened - I Thought I'd Be Overjoyed Richard!" (Leonard Clarissa Chorus) [Live]
19. "Louis? - Clarissa. Caught Me Smoking" (Clarissa Louis Chorus) [Live]
20. "Ent (Ha)Da Oikeîs en Te Ge" (Chorus Angelica Quentin Julian Virginia Vanessa Laura) [Live]
21. "Richard! Get Down from There" (Clarissa Richard) [Live]
22. "For Alone You Are Holy..." (Chorus Man Under the Arch) [Live]
23. "MM... 'Stead of Jousting You'd Rather..." (MRS. Latch Richie Laura Clarissa Virginia Leonard Nelly) [Live]
24. "Happy My Birthday!" (Dan Richie Walter Sally Louis Clarissa Virginia Leonard Laura) [Live]
25. "This Is My Partner Sally" (Clarissa Sally Laura Dan Leonard) [Live]
26. "All Along?" (Clarissa Laura Virginia) [Live]