© Opera Company of Philadelphia
For its 2024-25 season, Opera Philadelphia welcomes the American premiere of Missy Mazzoli's opera The Listeners (following its premiere at Oslo Opera in 2022), as well as Chevalier de Saint-Georges Joseph Bologne's rare comic opera L'Amant Anonyme.
Philadelphia may not be the most vibrant of American cities when it comes to opera, but its Academy of Music (home of the Opera Company of Philadelphia) boasts the oldest opera house within the United States to be continuously in use for its original purpose since its founding in 1855. The Opera Company of Philadelphia has announced its (short) 2024-2025 season, which will include the American premiere of Missy Mazzoli's opera The Listeners, co-produced by Opera Philadelphia and Oslo Opera.
The Listerners by Missy Mazzoli
Following the success of her opera Breaking the Waves in 2016, Missy Mazzoli is now establishing herself as one of the composers well worth keeping a close eye on. The Listeners, which premiered at Oslo Opera in September 2022, confirms this feeling, and the work will therefore receive its US premiere in Philadelphia on 25, 27 and 29 September as part of the Opera Company of Philadelphia's traditional Festival O - instead of Jennifer Higdon's Woman with Eyes Closed, an opera that was due to receive its world premiere before being cancelled for financial reasons (though it was to be programmed by another opera company at a later date).
For the record, The Listeners is based on an unusual news story: without any rational explanation, ordinary Americans (the 'Listerners') begin to hear a dull, throbbing 'hum' of unknown origin. These 'listeners' come together as a community to solve the mystery, sometimes developing conspiracy theories, sometimes religious beliefs. The opera questions the limits to which Americans are prepared to go to cultivate a sense of belonging to a community or to find a purpose in their existence (sometimes at the risk of being cut off from their loved ones or their "former lives"), and the ways in which certain leaders can exploit these feelings for their own ends. At Opera Philadelphia, audiences will discover the Oslo premiere production by director Lileana Blain-Cruz. On stage will be soprano Nicole Heaston in the lead role she created, this time with a new cast, including members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
A rare and repertory work
Traditionally, and in parallel with its Festival O production in September, Opera Philadelphia's season offers a number of other productions throughout the year (usually in the spring). In January, the company will present L'amant anonyme, a rare comic opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a contemporary of Mozart and Haydn and one of the few black composers of his time. The cast includes soprano Symone Harcum in the role of the widow Léontine, who is stirred by the fiery anonymous letters sent to her - the author of which turns out to be Valcour, played by tenor Khanyiso Gwenxane.
Finally, in April and May 2025, the Opera will present a new production of Don Giovanni by director Alison Moritz (which will also be performed in Cincinnati in June), starring Timothy Murray in the title role, alongside Nicholas Newton (Leporello), Olivia Smith (Donna Anna), Elizabeth Reiter (Donna Elvira) and Amanda Sheriff (Zerlina).
The Opera Company of Philadelphia details its 2024-2025 season here, on its website.
the 13 of February, 2024 | Print
Comments