Festival Napa Valley Announces World Premiere of ‘The Judgment of Paris’
By Francisco SalazarFestival Napa Valley has announced the commissioning and world premiere of “The Judgment of Paris,” a new one-act opera by acclaimed composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer.
The work will debut on July 18, 2026, on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug Winery, as part of Festival Napa Valley’s landmark 20th Anniversary Season. It will mark the the festival’s first opera commission and will be performed with full orchestra.
The production will star soprano Danielle De Niese as Venus and baritone Quinn Kelsey as Bacchus, with tenor Nicholas Phan as Steven Spurrier, mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh as Patricia Gallagher, and soprano Brenda Rae as Odette Kahn.
They will be joined by Festival Napa Valley’s Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellows, portraying the Napa and Paris pioneers at the heart of the story: Joanne DePuy, Mike Grgich, Warren Winiarski, and George Taber.
Jean-Romain Vesperini will direct, while Kent Nagano will conduct.
In a statement, Charles Letourneau, Vice President and Director of Artistic Planning at Festival Napa Valley said, “This opera captures the essence of Napa Valley — curiosity, courage, and the joy of discovery. We are thrilled to collaborate with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer on a project that unites artistry, history, and the enduring power of innovation.
Heggie added, “Wine and opera – a pairing made in heaven! I am having the time of my life writing The Judgment of Paris and collaborating with the first-rate creative team assembled by Festival Napa Valley. This story has such great heart and its high stakes, infused with the antics of Bacchus and Venus, make for a truly fun piece. The music that’s emerging is vital, rhythmic, and filled with the soaring vocal lyricism I adore. I’d been yearning for a joyful new project that sets my creative spirit on fire – this is the one!”
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