The Mother of Us All

The Mother of Us All is a two-act opera composed by Virgil Thomson to a libretto by Gertrude Stein.

Thomson and Stein met in 1945 to begin the writing process, almost twenty years after their first collaborative project, the opera Four Saints in Three Acts.

After Stein's death in July, Thomson began working on the score, which he finished within just a few months.

[2][1] According to experts, Gertrude Stein's exploration of rhythm and repetition within her writing lent itself to a musical setting.

[4] Contrary to Four Saints in Three Acts, the focus of The Mother of Us All was on distinctly characterizing each political player—Thomson gave each a particular musical identity through his melody and orchestration.

[2] Though he still worked within a traditional tonal framework, Thomson was highly influenced by serialism and other contemporary musical ideas.

[6] The work is scored for one flute, one oboe, two clarinets, one bassoon, two French horns, two trumpets, one trombone, two percussionists, harp, celesta, piano, and strings.

[6] The cast consists of two sopranos, one alto, two tenors, one baritone, and one bass, with twenty five singers and six additional silent actors.

[1] The opera premiered on 7 May 1947 at Columbia University's Brander Matthews Hall with soprano Dorothy Dow as Susan B.

[8] The opera was mounted at Carnegie Hall by the American Opera Society in 1964 with Johanna Meier as Susan B. Anthony, Betty Allen as Anne, Thomas Paul as Daniel Webster, and Enrico Di Giuseppe as John Quincy Adams.

In 2003, San Francisco Opera opened its 80th anniversary season with a new production of The Mother of Us All, Luana DeVol assuming the role of Susan B. Anthony for the first time.

A political meeting takes place, at which Webster, Johnson, Adams, Grant, Comstock, and Stevens are all present.

Thaddeus Stevens argues with Andrew Johnson; there is a flowery love scene between John Adams and Constance Fletcher.

John Adams courts Constance Fletcher, Daniel Webster (who is to perform the ceremony) addresses Angel More in sentimental language.

It seems that the wedding is all but forgotten, but finally Daniel Webster blesses the couple and Susan B. foretells that all of their children, men and women, will have the vote.