Q & A: American Opera Initiative’s Kelley Rourke on the Essence of Contemporary Opera & Bringing AOI to NYC

(Credit: Brittany Lesavoy Smith Photography) Few organizations have done as much to illuminate the possibilities of contemporary opera than American Opera Initiative (AOI). The program, founded in 2012 by Francesca Zambello, is a one-year lab of sorts for aspiring opera composers and librettists to create, workshop, rehearse, and premiere a short opera. Amongst the works to premiere under the program {…}

Washington National Opera Announces Three Operas to Premiere as Part of 2025 American Opera Initiative

Washington National Opera has announced the slate for the 12th season of American Opera Initiative. Set to take place on Jan. 18, 2025, the showcase features three world premieres of 20-minute chamber operas. This year’s works include “Tati” by Kyle Brenn and Lex Brown, Cry, “Wolf” by JL Marlor and Clare Fuyuko Bierman, and “Mud Girl” by Omar Najmi and Christine Evans. “From my own experience as a director, I firmly believe that {…}