I am saddened to learn of the death of Carlisle Floyd, whom I’ve lauded on this page many times.

In 1956, even as tonality was slipping out of fashion, Floyd achieved something quite wonderful for an American composer of his time. He was not yet 30 when he enticed Phyllis Curtin and Mack Harrell to Tallahassee to sing in the world premiere of his opera, “Susannah.” It became one of the most successful operas this country has ever produced. Floyd transplants the Apocryphal tale of Susannah and the Elders to rural Tennessee, rendering it with touching simplicity.

He wrote the libretto and music while on the piano faculty at Florida State University. The work’s success soon spread to New York, and “Susannah” became one of the most frequently performed of American operas. It does feature two heart-melting arias that remain favorites of aspiring American sopranos: “Ain’t It a Pretty Night” and “The Trees on the Mountain.”

The directness of the drama and the uncluttered musical language struck a chord with both performers and audiences. Emboldened by his success, Floyd went on to compose ten more operas, all of them on his own librettos, drawing inspiration from such diverse sources as Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights,” Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Markheim,” John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” and Robert Penn Warren’s “All the King’s Men.”

“Cold Sassy Tree,” based on the novel of Olive Ann Burns, was given its premiere in 2000. The composer had intended it to be his swan song. He had become too busy caring for his wife, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, to devote much further thought to composition. But following her death, he found the inspiration for one last hurrah. The result was “Prince of Players,” about 17th century actor Edward Kynaston.

It’s hard not to shed a few tears for Carlisle Floyd, but he had a very good run. “Prince of Players,” was given its debut at Houston Grand Opera in 2016, when the composer was 90 years-old.

Floyd died yesterday at the age of 95.

Dawn Upshaw breaks hearts with “Ain’t It a Pretty Night,” from “Susannah”:

Cheryl Studer sings “The Trees on the Mountain,” from a complete recording of the work:

Samuel Ramey as the Reverend Olin Blitch:

A taste of “Prince of Players” from Little Opera Theater of New York:

The 2021 Grammy-nominated recording (Best Opera Recording; Best Contemporary Classical Composition; Producer of the Year, Classical):

Carlisle Floyd speaks:

“Cold Sassy Tree”: