LA Opera has commissioned some of today’s most in-demand artists to create a series of short musical films.
Superstar composers team up with talented visual artists including animators, experimental filmmakers and choreographers to bring you a number of new pieces throughout the fall and early winter.
Featured composers include (left to right): Du Yun, Gabriela Lena Frank, Missy Mazzoli, Tamar-kali, David Lang, Tyshawn Sorey, Matthew Aucoin
Check out some more early details for all of our upcoming projects below, but be sure to check back here as we share more.
The Five Moons of Lorca
Composer: Gabriela Lena Frank
Librettist: Nilo Cruz
Filmmaker: Matthew Diamond
Choreographer / Solo Dancer: Irene Rodríguez
Musicians: countertenor Jacob Ingbar, pianist Nicholas Roehler, and members of the LA Opera Chorus
Premiere: December 11, 2020
Watch here
The West is a Land of Infinite Beginnings
Composer: Missy Mazzoli
Librettist: Royce Vavrek
Director: James Darrah
Musical performers: bass Andrew Harris, conductor Christopher Rountree, the International Contemporary Ensemble
Premiere: January 15, 2021
Watch here
Lumee's Dream
Based on an excerpt from the opera "p r i s m" (librettist: Roxie Perkins)
Composer: Ellen Reid
Mezzo-soprano soloist: Rebecca Jo Loeb
Viola soloist: Nadia Sirota
Co-director and director of photography: James Darrah
Co-director and editor: Adam Larsen
Premiere: January 29, 2021
Death
A setting of the poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Composer: Tyshawn Sorey
Film director: Nadia Hallgren
Performers: mezzo-soprano Amanda Lynn Bottoms, pianist Howard Watkins
Premiere: February 19, 2021
BROWN SOUNDS
A setting of a poem by Henry Dumas
Composer: Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Executive Producer / Conceptual Creator: Raehann Bryce-Davis
Filmmaker: Jérémy Adonis
Costume Designer / Stylist: Allan Virgo
Performers: mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis, dancer Lateef Williams, pianist Jeanne-Minette Cilliers
Premiere: March 26, 2021
let me come in
Composer: David Lang
Producer/filmmaker: Bill Morrison
Performers: soprano Angel Blue; violist David Creswell; cellist Anja Wood; percussionist Miles Salerni; conductor Bryan Wagorn
Premiere: April 30, 2021
Gallup
Settings of poetry by Jake Skeets
Composer: Matthew Aucoin
Filmmaker: Blackhorse Lowe
Performers: baritone Davóne Tines, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, AMOC (American Modern Opera Company)
Premiere: May 28, 2021
The Zolle Suite
Composer/librettist: Du Yun
Producer: Ron Diamond, Acme Filmworks
Animators: Steven Woloshen, Benjamin Swiczinsky, Kristian Pedersen, Oliver Harrison
Performers: narrator Du Yun, conductor Julian Wachner, mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn, International Contemporary Ensemble
Premiere: July 9, 2021
Watch here
The First Bluebird in the Morning
Composer: Carlos Simon
Librettist: Sandra Seaton
Project: The First Bluebird in the Morning
Filmmaker/choreographer: Jamar Roberts
Dancer: Lloyd Knight
Musical performers: tenor Joshua Blue; cellist Anja Wood; pianist Howard Watkins
Premiere: September 24, 2021
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS
A setting of poetry by Paul Laurence Dunbar ("We Wear the Mask"), Langston Hughes ("I, Too"), Claude McKay ("If We Must Die"), Tamar-Kali ("Requiem for Elijah McClain")
Composer: Tamar-kali
Filmmaker: dream hampton
Performers: conductor Anthony Parnther, tenor Ashley Faatoalia, baritone Cedric Berry, Selah Gospel Choir, spoken word artist Samuel Getachew and members of the LA Opera Orchestra.
BETWEEN THE ROOMS
A setting of verses by Emily Dickinson for soprano and string quintet
Composer: Anna Clyne
Director, choreographer, editor: Kim Brandstrup
Dancers: Alina Cojocaru, Matthew Ball
Musical performers: soprano Joelle Harvey, The Knights (Eric Jacobsen, conductor; Colin Jacobsen, Kristi Helberg, violin; Mario Gotoh, viola; Caitlin Sullivan; Logan Coale, bass)
Premiere: May 13, 2022
