Kimper and Persons cite Richard Strauss as an influence, and mention that their wish to make the opera "economically viable to produce" led to their choice of a small orchestra and no chorus.

[1] Some of the cast members were those from the 1996 semi-staged version, including Lori Ann Phillips and Elaine Valby as the title pair, though John G. Bellemer replaced Michael Hendrick as Edward White.

"[10] The plot of the opera follows that of the novel fairly closely, with the wealthy and well-educated Patience and the poor farmer's daughter Sarah falling in love and sharing their dreams of leaving Connecticut to go pioneering.

Sarah returns, and after Patience's brother demands the two leave his home, they set out to start a farm and a life together, and sing a final duet on the dock.

[13] Reviewing the 1996 performance for the New York Times, Allan Kozinn described Kimper's score as "accessible, attractively lyrical," noting that it drew on hymn tunes and parlor songs but also contained impressionistic influences.

"[1] James Jorden compared the music to The Ballad of Baby Doe and the work of Virgil Thomson, and said that Kimper set the libretto "great sensitivity to the cadences of natural speech.

Specific excerpts that drew praise were Sarah's "gorgeous, Ravelian aria" in Act II[12] and "a charming and dramatically sensitive setting of the Lord's Prayer and a tear-jerking ballad for the lovesick Parson.