Lyric Fest’s 20th anniversary season, which coincides with its 2022-23 edition, has been announced.

This season will feature a world premiere opera by Damien Geter and several milestone celebrations.

“Elysian Fields” is the season opener. Soprano Magdalena Kuźma, and mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce will perform solo and duets, entitled “dawns, visions, and dreams.” The young artists will be joined by Laura Ward at the piano. The first performance takes place at the Academy of Vocal Arts at 3 p.m. and at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church at 7:30 pm.

Performance Dates: September 18 & 20, 2022

There will be two performances of “A Singer’s Singer – A Biography in Music of Winnaretta Singer, An American Patroness in Paris.” Winnaretta Singer was an influential figure in early 20th-century Paris. Her musical attributions include hosting the most famous salon in Paris and being a patron of Debussy, Ravel, Faure, Satie, Weill, Stravinsky, and Poulenc, among many others. Outside of music, Singer organized public health events and was openly in same-sex relationships. Her story will be shared by Soprano Danielle Talamantes, soprano, Marjorie Maltais, mezzo-soprano, Jorell Williams, baritone, Laura Ward, piano, and Suzanne DuPlantis, script and narration.

The first performance is at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and the second is held at the same time at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.

Performance Dates: November 12 & 13, 2022

A tribute to the 20th-century Norwegian composer Arne Dørumsgaard, “Ode to the Lost Song: Arne Dørumsgaard” will be presented by soprano Victoria Okafor and baritone Byron Jones, with Laura Ward at the piano and Suzanne DuPlantis narrating. Moorestown Community House in New Jersey will host the first concert and the final concert will be at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Both performances take place at 7 pm.

Performance Dates: December 6 & 7, 2022

The world premiere of Damien Geter’s “COTTON” will open the 2023 season. The work was inspired by the photography series by the same name curated by Philadelphia artist John Dowell. The multi-media opera explores the survival strategies of enslaved African-Americans and slavery in New York City. “COTTON” stars mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and baritone Justin Austin, pianist Laura Ward, and features eight African American poets.

The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral holds the premiere at 7:30 p.m. and the second performance will be at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater also at 7:30 p.m.

Performance Dates: February 25 & 28, 2023

In celebration of Earth Day, Lyric Fest will present “Metamorphosis of Plants: A Lieder Celebration for Earth Day,” another multi-media production. At 8 p.m. the Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square PA hosts the Earth Day performance and a free concert at the Peabody Conservatory of Music will take place the following day at 7:30 p.m.

Soprano Kristina Bachrach, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis, tenor Andrew Fuchs, tenor, baritone Randall Scarlata, along with pianist Laura Ward will present the Lieder of German poet, statesman, and botanist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Performance Dates: April 22 & 23 2023

Closing the season is “Bewitched: The Bothered, Bewildered Songs of Rodgers and Hart.” This concert honors the work of Richard Rogers and Lorenzo Hart’s artistic partnership. The duo produced over 500 songs and 28 Broadway shows. Suzanne DuPlantis, Brian Major, and composer and arranger John Conahan tell their story.

The Moorestown Community House and the Academy of Vocal Arts host the 7 and 7:30 p.m. performances.

Performance Dates: May 23 & 24 2023