Born October 28, 1896, Wahoo, Nebraska Died February 26, 1981, Rochester, New York
About Howard Hanson
Howard Hanson was in his day considered the most important of American composers. Since his death interest in his neo-romantic music has waned, but he has never fully disappeared from the repretoire, especially his symphonies in the high romantic style. His only opera, Merry Mount, was one of the Met's most successful essays into new American works in the thirties, both artistically and with the public: at its premiere, the opera recieved a total of fifty curtain calls, still a house record. Hanson was also an important musical educator and helped promote the music of such composers as Roy Harris and Jack Beeson.
Operas
Merry Mount, opera in three acts of six scenes Libretto by Richard L. Stokes after the story The Maypole of Merry Mount by Nathaniel Hawthorne. February 10, 1934, Metropolitan Opera, New York, New York
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