Photo credit: Nicole Haslett Offical Website

The world premiere of Lisa DeSpain and Melisa Tiennew’s opera “Song of the Nightingale” stars Nicole Haslett, Hannah Cho, Bernard Holcomb, Eliam Ramos, and Chrystal E. Williams.

“Song of the Nightingale” is a modern adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Nightingale” as it explores themes of self-discovery and self-love. On Site Opera’s music director Geoffrey McDonald conducts with Katherine M. Carter directing. Costume designer Kara Harmon serves alongside Tess James who is the lighting designer and Beth Lake in charge of sound.

The co-production by On Site Opera and Brookfield Properties Arts & Culture runs Sept. 8 – 30 at three of Brookfield Properties’ public spaces: Brooklyn Commons, Manhattan West and Brookfield Place, respectively. There are 12 performances in total with a “Lunchtime Preview and Talk” scheduled on Sept. 21 and 28. The all-ages performances are sung in English and are free to the public.

Piper Gunnarson, On Site Opera’s General Director/CEO said in a press release,”The partnership between On Site Opera and Brookfield Properties Arts & Culture introduces a new angle to our unique producing model as we merge our respective missions to activate public spaces around New York City. This will be our first time presenting a single opera production in three different spaces, which is an exciting way to extend our artistic reach and impact. This innovative collaboration will not only democratize access to opera but also invigorate public spaces with the transformative beauty and emotional resonance of this timeless art form, fostering a deeper appreciation for both opera and the vibrant cultural fabric of our communities.”