Alumni of American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program are changing the landscape of American Opera. Below is a selection of operas written by alumni since their time in the CLDP that have been highlighted in recent operatic seasons across the country, and internationally.
Please note this list is currently in the process of being updated to reflect performances from 2020-2024, which are not yet included here.
( * Denotes CLDP Alumni )
IN A GROVE
Music by CHRISTOPHER CERRONE*
Libretto by STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN*
Pittsburgh Opera (2022 World Premiere)
BREAKING THE WAVES
Music by MISSY MAZZOLI
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Los Angeles Opera (2021)
Houston Grand Opera (2021)
The Edinburgh Festival (2019)
Opera Philadelphia (2016 World Premiere)
THE SELFISH GIANT
Music by CLARICE ASSAD*
Libretto by LILA PALMER*
Opera Saratoga (2021 World Premiere)
ALICE IN THE PANDEMIC
Music by JORGE SOSA*
Libretto by CERISE LIM JACOBS
White Snake Projects (2020 World Premiere)
ALL DECISIONS WILL BE MADE BY CONCENSUS
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by ROB HANDEL*
Here Arts Center (2020 World Premiere)
THE COPPER QUEEN
Music by CLINT BORZONI*
Libretto by JOHN DE LOS SANTOS
Arizona Opera (2020 World Premiere)
SCALIA / GINSBURG
Music and libretto by DERRICK WANG*
Solo Opera California (2020)
Toledo Opera (2020)
Virginia Opera (2020)
Opera Las Vegas (2020)
Opera Grand Rapids (2020)
Opera Carolina (2020)
Opera Delaware (2019)
Glimmerglass Festival (2017)
Castleton Festival (2015 World Premiere)
WOMAN OF LETTERS
Music by LILIYA UGAY*
Libretto by SOKUNTHARY SVAY
Washington National Opera
(2020 World Premiere)
ABRAHAM IN FLAMES
Music by ALEKSANDRA VREBALOV*
Libretto by NILOUFAR TALEBI*
The Z Space (2019 World Premiere)
DOG DAYS
Music By DAVID T. LITTLE
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Northwestern University (2019)
Bielefeld Opera, Germany (2016)
Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater (2016)
Prototype Festival (2016)
Fort Worth Opera (2015)
Los Angeles Opera (2015)
Beth Morrison Projects (2012 World Premiere)
I AM A DREAMER WHO NO LONGER DREAMS
Music by JORGE SOSA*
Libretto by CERISE LIM JACOBS
White Snake Projects (2019 World Premiere)
THE INFINITE ENERGY OF ADA LOVELACE
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by ROB HANDEL*
Opera Ithaca (2019 World Premiere)
JFK
Music by DAVID T. LITTLE
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater (2019)
Opéra de Montréal (2018)
Fort Worth Opera (2016 World Premiere)
LOOKING AT YOU
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by ROB HANDEL*
HERE Arts Center (2019 World Premiere)
MONKEY AND FRANCINE IN THE CITY OF TIGERS
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by DAVID JOHNSTON*
Seagle Festival (2019)
Houston Grand Opera/HGO2GO (2018 World Premiere)
MURASAKI’S MOON
Music by MICHI WIANCKO
Libretto by DEBORAH BREVOORT*
Metropolitan Museum of Art / OnSite Opera (2019 World Premiere)
SILENT LIGHT
Music by PAOLA PRESTINI
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Based on the film Stellet Licht
by Carlos Reygadas.
Banff Centre (2019 World Premiere)
TAKING UP SERPENTS
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by JERRE DYE
Washington National Opera (2019 World Premiere)
TOWN HALL
Music by THEO POPOV*
Libretto by E. M. LEWIS*
Willamette University (2019)
Maryland Opera Studio (2018 World Premiere)
ALL WOUNDS BLEED
Music by CHRIS CERRONE*
Libretto by TONY ASARO*
Brooklyn Opera Works at Brooklyn Music School (2018 World Premiere)
THE LONG WALK
Music by JEREMY HOWARD BECK*
Libretto by STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN*
Based on the Book “The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life that Follows” by Brian Castner
Pittsburgh Opera (2018)
Utah Opera (2017)
Opera Saratoga (World Premiere 2015)
PROVING UP
Music by MISSY MAZZOLI
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Opera Omaha (2018)
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2018 World Premiere)
Miller Theater at Columbia University (2018)
SONG FROM THE UPROAR
Music by MISSY MAZZOLI
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Opera Ithaca (2018)
Cincinnati Opera (2017)
Milwaukee Opera Theater (2016)
Chicago Fringe Opera (2016)
Los Angeles Opera (2016)
Chautauqua Opera (2016)
NOW Ensemble (2015)
Beth Morrison Projects (2012 World Premiere)
STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME
Music by GERALD COHEN*
Libretto by DEBORAH BREVOORT*
Opera Colorado (2018 World Premiere)
VINKENSPORT, OR THE FINCH OPERA
Music by DAVID T. LITTLE
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Opera Saratoga (2018)
Bard College Conservatory of Music (2010 World Premiere)
WHEN ADONIS CALLS
Music by CLINT BORZONI*
Libretto by JOHN DE LOS SANTOS
Asheville Lyric Opera (2018 World Premiere)
WHY IS EARTHA KITT TRYING TO KILL ME?: A LOVE STORY
Music by JEFFREY DENNIS SMITH*
Libretto by DAVID JOHNSTON*
URBAN ARIAS (2018 World Premiere)
THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE
Music by RICKY IAN GORDON
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Houston Grand Opera (2017 World Premiere)
THE PARKSVILLE MURDERS
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by JERRE DYE
Opera on Tap (2017 World Premiere)
27
Music by RICKY IAN GORDON
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
MasterVoices (2016)
Pittsburgh Opera (2016)
Opera Theater of St. Louis (2014 World Premiere)
AFTER THE STORM
Music by DAVID HANLON
Libretto by STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN*
Houston Grand Opera (2016 World Premiere)
ANGEL’S BONE
Music by DU YUN
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music
Prototype Festival (2016 World Premiere)
BURIED ALIVE
Music by JEFF MYERS*
Libretto by QUINCY LONG*
Fort Worth Opera (2016)
Fargo Morehead Opera (2014 World Premiere)
EMBEDDED
Music by PATRICK SOLURI*
Libretto by DEBORAH BREVOORT*
Fort Worth Opera (2016)
Fargo Morehead Opera (2014 World Premiere)
O COLUMBIA
Music by GREGORY SPEARS
Libretto by ROYCE VAVREK*
Houston Grand Opera (2015 World Premiere)
THE PROPERTY
Music by WLAD MARHULETS
Libretto by STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN*
Based on the graphic novel by Rutu Modan
Lyric Opera of Chicago/Lyric Unlimited (2015 World Premiere)
DAUGHTERS OF THE BLOODY DUKE
Music by JAKE RUNESTAD
Libretto by DAVID JOHNSTON*
Washington National Opera (2014 World Premiere)
THUMBPRINT
Music by KAMALA SANKARAM*
Libretto by SUSAN YANKOWITZ
Prototype Festival (2014 World Premiere)
INVISIBLE CITIES
Music and libretto by CHRISTOPHER CERRONE*
Based on the novel Invisible Cities
by Italo Calvino
Finalist for The Pulitzer Prize in Music
The Industry (2013 World Premiere)
MILEVA
Music by ALEKSANDRA VREBALOV*
Libretto by VIDA OGNJENOVIC
Croatian National Theater (2012)
Armiel Opera Festival, Hungary (2012)
BEMUS Festival Belgrade, Serbia (2011)
Serbian National Theater (2011 World Premiere)
MARGOT ALONE IN THE LIGHT
Music by CLINT BORZONI*
Libretto by EMILY CONBERE*
operamission (2010 World Premiere)