Based on James Hilton’s classic novella, composer Gordon Getty’s opera Goodbye, Mr. Chips tells of the life of beloved English schoolmaster Mr. Chipping, known to his students and others as “Mr. Chips.” Set at Brookfield, “a good public school of the second rate” in Eastern England, the story follows Chips from his first days at the boarding school in 1870, through his marriage to the woman who will change him forever, to the rapid changes of the turn of the century and outbreak of World War I. Along the way, we’re reminded of the difference one good teacher can make as we watch Chips and his children, “thousands of them, all boys,” enrich each other’s lives. The opera’s world premiere took place on November 14, 2021, in San Rafael, CA.
Watch the trailer for Goodbye, Mr. Chips, an opera reimagined for film.