Creator and opera revolutionary Davóne Tines brings Langston Hughes’ poem “The Black Clown” to musical life in a vaudevillian rendering of this masterpiece. Fusing gospel, opera, jazz, and spirituals into a searing night of theatrical brilliance, this visually arresting piece embodies the evolving, divided soul of Black America.

Performed in English
70 minutes with no intermission

This production contains racial slurs and stylized representations of violence, particularly related to slavery, as well as haze, simulated smoking, and bright flashing lights.

What is madness and what is truth? Must truth bend to power? This new opera is based on Tennessee Williams’ 1958 play, which was adapted the next year into a film starring Katherine Hepburn. Set in New Orleans, the opera’s plot deals with a mysterious death and a secret that must remain hidden at all costs. The role of Catharine Holly is sung by a soprano, while the other characters: Catharine’s aunt, brother, and mother, and neurosurgeon Dr. Cukrowicz, are all spoken roles played by actors. A children’s chorus adds to the mysterious atmosphere. 

Performed in English with English supertitles
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission

For the first time in its history, Opera Philadelphia is presenting a musical! Written by the Gershwin brothers in 1933, with a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Let ’Em Eat Cake is a dystopian farce set in America that was created in reaction to the rise of fascism in Europe. With catchy tunes and dance numbers, the opera spoofs everything government takeovers, White House makeovers, and fashion shows, even casting the Supreme Court as a baseball team! 

Verdi’s Aida takes place in an exoticized imagining of ancient Egypt. Aida is an Ethiopian princess enslaved by the Egyptian princess Amneris. The Egyptian warrior Radamès falls in love with Aida, and she with him, but Amneris is in love with Radamès too! The opera’s characters are torn between loyalty to their homelands and romantic love as they make life-or-death decisions. Verdi’s Aida is famous for its over-the-top Triumphal March, but its score also shines in more intimate, introspective moments for its characters. Our production will be visually arresting, showcasing the beauty that can emerge from challenging circumstances as diverse cultures meet.

Join us for the world premiere of Sitcom, an opera structured in episodes, just like your favorite tv show! The opera’s music is brand new, but inspired by dramatic music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The four main characters find themselves in all sorts of silly situations that they must work out before each segment ends. Sitcom is a chamber opera, with a small cast but a big impact.