David Gockley in 2008; and Christopher Theofanidis and Donna Di Novelli's "Heart of a Soldier" in 2011. The company also presented the West Coast premieres of Rachel Portman's "The Little Prince" and Jake Heggie's chamber opera "Three Decembers". San Francisco Opera also presented three world premieres in 2013: Nolan Gasser and Carey Harrison’s "The Secret Garden", based on the children's book by Frances Hodgson Burnett in conjunction with UC Berkeley's Cal Performances; Mark Adamo’s "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene"; and Tobias Picker and J.D. McClatchy’s "Dolores Claiborne", based on the novel by Stephen King. San Francisco Opera will present the world premieres
Frances Hodgson Burnett stressed the age difference—Townsend was ten years younger than she—and she referred to him as her secretary. Biographer Ann Thwaite doubts he loved her. She claims at that time the 50-year-old Burnett was "stout, rouged and unhealthy". Thwaite believes Townsend needed her to help with his acting career and support him financially. Within months, in a letter to her sister, she admitted the marriage was in trouble. She described Townsend as scarcely sane and hysterical. Thwaite argues Townsend blackmailed her into the marriage: he wanted money from her and he wanted to control her as a husband. Unable to bear