Rashaan Allwood is set to showcase his new opera “Bright Bottles” at the Edyth Bates Grand Organ Hall at Rice University on Sunday, April 14, 2019.

The work is set in Texas and showcases the stories of a group of homeless women from Mexico.

Allwood is a leading organist around the world and has noted that his biggest influences in operatic writing are Wagner and Bach. The work is scored for organ, strings, and bass, with the epilogue composed specifically to feature the Artist Diploma Candidates of Rice University. The cast of the opera will feature students from Rice University’s opera program, Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and the University of North Texas in Dallas.

The opera will be followed by performances of music by Messiaen and some improvisations.