Heartbeat Opera is set to present two new works as part of its Spring Fest.

First up is “Eugene Onegin” in a brand-new 100-minute adaptation. The opera aims to explore the seminal opera through “the lens of Tchaikovsky’s suppressed queerness.”

“This reimagining of ‘Eugene Onegin’ comes at a time in which many Russian artists are being forced to flee the country or live under terrifying risk,” says the press release by Heartbeat Opera. “In Heartbeat’s hands, Tchaikovsky’s psychological masterpiece becomes an acute expression of the impossibility of liberation and acceptance that remains true even in our most progressive societies today.”

Dustin Wills directs with Daniel Schlosberg conducting an eight-piece orchestra. The opera stars Edwin Joseph, Emily Margevich, Roy Hage, and Maggie Renee, among others.

Performance Dates: April 2-13, 2024

Then comes the world premiere of “The Extinctionist,” the first opera the company has commissioned in its history. Composed by Heartbeat Opera Music Director Daniel Schlosberg and playwright Amanda Quaid, the 75-minute work focuses on the life of a couple trying to have a baby in the midst of global calamity. Schlosberg conducts the work. Shadi Ghaheri directs.

The opera stars Yvette Keong, Philip Stoddard, Claire Leyden, and Eliam Ramos.

Performance Dates: April 3-14, 2024