Higglety Pigglety Pop!

Higglety Pigglety Pop! is the second of Knussen’s two extraordinary fantasy operas created in collaboration with the acclaimed author Maurice Sendak. It was composed between 1984–5 but finding its final form after a number of substantial revisions in 1999. The opera, subtitled “There Must be More to Life,” is the story of a well-fed Sealyham terrier, Jennie, who escapes boredom to become prima donna of the Mother Goose World Theatre. Brimming with invention, this hour-long work culminates in a witty opera-within-an-opera, complete with a lopsided—and slightly screwy—overture, absurdly abrupt changes of tone and gear, and numerous madcap false endings.