The New York City Opera has announced its first two operas for the 2018-19 Season. 

The season is set to include a world premiere and a modern classic that will be directed by Francesca Zambello. The company will announce the rest of the lineup in the company weeks.

Productions

The New York City Opera opens its 75^thAnniversary with Francesca Zambello’s production of “The Crucible.” Based on Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, the opera Was written by Robert Ward With a libretto by Bernard  Stambler. In a press statement Zambello notes, “I am thrilled to return to the New York City Opera and to bring back a work that premiered with the company in 1961. It feels even more prescient now than almost 60 years ago. When we look back in history and remember that witchcraft trials happened all over Europe during the 1500 and 1600s.  Yet now, we are living in a time when often the enemy is invisible – it could be anything, anywhere, anytime – and you can make the most outlandish accusations stick.”

Premiere Dates: Sept. 6, 2018

The season will conclude with the world premiere of “Stonewall.” The opera will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, and in celebration of its 75th Anniversary season, “Stonewall”  is New York City Opera’s first commissioned work and is based on the 1969 Greenwich Village rebellion, which marked the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. The opera will be written by Ian Bell and librettist Mark Campbell. 

“Stonewall” is set to continue New York City Opera’s Pride Initiative by producing an LGBT-focused work each June in commemoration of Gay Pride Month. This new work will follow the company’s 2017 production of Péter Eötvös’s “Angels in America” (based on the Tony Kushner play) and this past season’s production of Charles Wuorinen’s adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain.”

Premiere Date: June 19, 2019