(Photo by Charlotte Mae Ellison)

Opera Montana will present the world premiere of “A River Runs Through It” this September.

The opera, based on Norman Maclean’s celebrated novella, follows adult brothers Norman and Paul Maclean, who have grown apart over time. Paul, a newspaperman and gambler, struggles with troubles he refuses to confront, while Norman attempts to help him reconnect with family and faith. A final fishing trip with their father becomes a reflection on love, loss, and the shifting roles within the family.

The operatic adaptation features music by composer Zach Redler and a libretto by Matt Foss and Kelley Rourke, based on Maclean’s text. Opera Montana Artistic Director Michael Sakir conducts the world premiere, with Foss also serving as stage director.

Baritone Schyler Vargas stars as Norman, with tenor Michael Kuhn as Paul. Soprano Christine Taylor Price appears as Jessie, Norman’s wife, and tenor Ryan Bryce Johnson portrays Neal, Jessie’s brother. Mezzo-soprano Megan Marino sings Heidi, mezzo-soprano Phyllis Pancella is Clara Maclean, and bass-baritone David Pittsinger portrays John Maclean, the brothers’ father and a Presbyterian minister. The opera features an instrumental ensemble of 24 musicians and seven principal singers.

The work will premiere at the Ellen Theatre in Bozeman with additional performances set for Missoula in October.

“A River Runs Through It is a Montana story, but it’s also a universal one,” said General Director Susan Miller, per an official press release. “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its publication, there couldn’t be a better time to bring it to the stage.”

“Turning a well-known literary and film classic into an opera is a challenging undertaking,” added John N. Maclean, the author’s son. “The reward is a fresh perspective that brings the familiar characters to new life.”

The production is supported in part by OPERA America’s Opera Fund. A preview performance and workshop will take place on May 20, 2026, at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, featuring readings by John Maclean paired with excerpts from the opera.

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