Missy Mazzoli Becomes First Woman to Have an Opera Premiered by the Met in 143 Years

2.6 · 6d ago · US

The Facts

  • Composer Missy Mazzoli, 45, is the first woman to have an opera premiered by the Metropolitan Opera in its 143-year history. CBS News only
  • The opera is "Lincoln in the Bardo," based on George Saunders' novel, with a libretto by Royce Vavrek; it depicts Abraham Lincoln mourning his 11-year-old son Willie. CBS News only
  • The Met premiere took place on a Monday, marking Mazzoli's Met debut. CBS News only
  • The production includes elaborate costumes, puppetry and special effects. CBS News only
  • Mazzoli and Vavrek premiered another opera this summer, "The Galloping Cure," about the opioid epidemic; Vavrek has written lyrics for six of her operas. CBS News only
Dive deeper · 3 more factsShow less
  • Mazzoli has an upcoming piano concerto commissioned by the New York Philharmonic. CBS News only
  • Mazzoli co-founded Luna Lab ten years ago, a non-profit that mentors teen composers and provides them performance opportunities. CBS News only
  • Mazzoli said punk rock and MTV music videos influenced her work; she played in punk bands growing up. CBS News only

Context

The Metropolitan Opera premiered "Lincoln in the Bardo," an opera by composer Missy Mazzoli, making her the first woman to have an opera premiered by the company in its 143-year history. The work is adapted from George Saunders' novel and centers on Lincoln's grief after the death of his son Willie during the Civil War.

Mazzoli said she sees the setting of a divided America as relevant today. She also said she prepared by spending time in cemeteries.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

3 News Editor This is a cultural arts story about a premiere of a single opera, a notable milestone but with limited impact on most people and no major public consequence.
3 Critical Reader A premiere of a new opera at the Met is a notable cultural milestone with a gender-first angle, but its impact is limited to the arts community and it is a niche event with no broad consequences.
3 Science & Tech Analyst A notable arts milestone for a composer and the Met, but it is a cultural premiere with limited broad impact rather than a major news event affecting many people.
3 Policy Expert This is a cultural arts story about a premiere and a composer's milestone, with limited broad impact and no governmental or major public consequence.
2 Informed Citizen This is a cultural milestone about a single arts premiere with no broad impact on ordinary people beyond niche opera audiences, and it will not matter in a week.
2 Business Analyst This is a cultural arts story about a premiere and a composer's career milestone, with no market-moving economic impact or regulatory shift.
2 Global Affairs Analyst This is a cultural arts milestone about a premiere and a composer's background, with limited geopolitical or broad public impact.

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