Composed by William Susman
Libretto by Stuart Rojstaczer
Edsel Ford, tenor
Eleanor Ford, soprano
Henry Ford, baritone
Clara Ford, mezzo soprano
Evangeline Dahlinger, coloratura soprano
Harry Bennett, bass
Orchestra with standard complement of winds, brass, percussion, and strings plus mixed chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hours
Fordlandia - William Susman
An Opera in Two Acts
A family drama that examines corruptive vast wealth, flawed genius, and the essential strength of women in the 20th century
Synopsis
Fordlandia is a family drama about the struggle between Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, over the leadership and future of Ford Motor Company. It sheds light on the tragic and dysfunctional family life of the most transgressive businessman of the 20th century and America’s first true business disruptor. Henry’s inability to relinquish the control of his company to a son he loves dearly destroys Edsel emotionally and physically. The tragedy between father and son is only mitigated by the strength and actions of their wives.
- Henry Ford is a major icon in American history
- Fordlandia explores the complex interior lives and struggles of a father, son and their wives
- The women in Henry’s life play a prominent and ultimately empowering role based on their strength and intelligence
Fordlandia was selected for the Fort Worth Opera Frontiers Showcase
May 2 and 3, 2018, Bass Performance Hall
Fort Worth Opera Frontiers 2018 Press Release
Statement
Our goal was to examine, in operatic form, the influence of the industrial age on the soul and spirit of America. We chose Henry Ford as our focus because without him, America would not be the world power it is today. He was a titan who greatly influenced the fabric of both American economic and social life, a national iconic figure and Detroit native who established a model for being an uber-wealthy, socially irresponsible financial titan that has been followed by many, including the well-known modern tech leaders of today.
As we delved into the life of Henry Ford through library research and visits to his family haunts in Detroit, we discovered a story that was intimate in scope and deeply emotional: the complex and troubled relationship between Henry Ford and his son, Edsel. For us, this relationship, filled with love, envy and betrayal, was the essence of what opera can do perhaps better than any other art form. Focusing on that relationship allowed us to not only examine how America’s rise in industrialism influenced its citizens, but also how it had a profound impact on an iconic American family. Our story evolved from a biography of one individual to an examination of the interior lives of a great American family’s wives and husbands.
We wanted to examine their strengths and their flaws in detail. We also felt that this approach would work well with our musical and literary styles.
We’ve written one of two planned acts and have outlined the remaining libretto. Conversations with people in the world of opera convinced us that, because opera company directors usually like to have a creative voice in any new opera they produce, we should hold off finishing the libretto of the second act.
Fordlandia is a contemporary opera that tells a compelling, yet disturbing, story about a great American family. We are striving to involve the audience emotionally and intellectually with both our music and words. We are examining an American family, yes. But we are also, more importantly, examining the push and pull between progress and nostalgia, between love and ambition that have defined how America has evolved since its creation.
We have completed Act I and are looking for an opera company to partner with us on the completion of Act II and first performance.