American Lyric Theater Announces 20th Anniversary Gala Performance Honoring Susan Feder
By Afton Markay(Photo Credit: ALT)
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the American Lyric Theater (ALT) has announced its gala performance, “Celebrating 20 Years of American Lyric Theater.”
The concert program will feature scenes from a wide range of operas by alumni of ALTs Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), including works developed and commissioned by ALT, as well as operas that were commissioned and premiered at other leading companies across the country. Featured performers include sopranos Jacqueline Echols, Karen Vuong, Caroline Worra, and Jennifer Zetlan, mezzo-sopranos Heather Johnson and Gina Perregrino, tenor Andrew Bidlack, baritones Jonathan Michie and Ethan Vincent, and bass-baritone Justin Hopkins. Djordje Nesic, Jason Wirth, and ALT’s Associate Artistic Director Kelly Kuo perform at the piano.
A highlight of the evening is preview of an aria from “Lincoln in the Bardo,” the first opera by a CLDP alum to be commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera. Composed by Missy Mazzoli with a libretto by Royce Vavrek (CLDP 2007/08), “Lincoln in the Bardo” is scheduled to receive its world premiere in the fall of 2026.
The evening will honor Susan Feder for her contributions to contemporary American opera. For the past 15 years, Feder has held the position of Program Officer in the Arts and Culture Program at the Mellon Foundation. In a press release, ALT’s Founder and Artistic and General Director, Lawrence Edelson said, “Susan was one of the first people to believe in my vision for ALT. I still remember our early meetings at the Mellon Foundation—how invigorating it was to be met with Susan’s curiosity, and how meaningful it was that she was willing to take a chance on a scrappy little company doing things differently. Her belief in ALT, and the investment she championed through Mellon, made it possible for us to grow and to attract additional support. ALT has changed the face of American opera, and it’s no exaggeration to say that without Susan, that would never have been possible.”
The gala is scheduled for Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. Merkin Concert Hall in New York City hosts.
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