An Opera Philadelphia commission from the creative team of composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, and director James Darrah, it was Breaking the Waves that launched the company’s fall 2016-2017 season. The premiere proved a sensation. The Wall Street Journal called it “savage, heartbreaking and thoroughly original,” and for Parterre, Breaking the Waves was, quite simply, “the most startling and moving new American opera in memory.”

Supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and produced by Opera Philadelphia with audio by George Blood L.P., the upcoming audio stream was captured on September 29 at the penultimate performance of the opera’s opening run, which starred soprano Kiera Duffy as Bess McNeill – in “an absolutely spectacular performance” (Opera News) – under the baton of Steven Osgood. Like Von Trier’s groundbreaking film, the opera depicts a tragedy of conflicting ethical imperatives that ultimately serves as a meditation on the nature of goodness. The audio will be available for streaming on-demand at operaphila.org/waves. The production includes explicit language, nudity, and sexual content, some of a violent nature. Recommended for mature audiences only. (See full credits below.)

The release of Breaking the Waves caps Opera Philadelphia’s Women’s History Month celebration devoted to shining a spotlight on women creating opera today. Throughout March, audiences will gain access to exclusive interviews, guest blog posts, and more on operaphila.org and Opera Philadelphia’s social media channels.

• March 8: A new interview with esteemed director Robin Guarino, who will lead War Stories during Opera Philadelphia’s festival, O17, next fall, explores her experience in the male-dominated field at operaphila.org.
• March 13-17: Breaking the Waves composer Missy Mazzoli takes over the Opera Philadelphia Instagram and Twitter accounts throughout the week with a peek at the contemporary innovators and women in history that have influenced her operatic life.
• March 22: Hannah Moscovitch, renowned playwright and the librettist of I Have No Stories to Tell You, making its Philadelphia Premiere next fall, reveals her path to success in a guest blog post for operaphila.org.
• March 29: Just before the Breaking the Waves audio cast release, Pulitzer-Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon and Opera Philadelphia Composer in Residence Rene Orth sit down with Opera Philadelphia’s own New Works Administrator Sarah Williams for a Facebook LIVE discussion about what it takes to be a contemporary composer.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this month with living history-making women such as Missy, Jennifer, Hannah, Rene, and Robin,” said Opera Philadelphia New Works Administrator Sarah Williams. “From an opera written by a woman for a complex leading female character in Breaking the Waves, to other creative visionaries in the field (that just so happen to also be women), we honor their work and process by hearing from each of them.”

Stay tuned to Opera Philadelphia’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for upcoming announcements, and follow along using #WomenInOpera.

To download high-resolution photos, click here.

Opera Philadelphia: Breaking the Waves audio stream
Premieres March 29 at operaphila.org 

Produced by Opera Philadelphia 
Supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage 
Audio by George Blood L.P.

American Repertoire Program 
Co-commission and co-production with Beth Morrison Projects 
Music by Missy Mazzoli 
Libretto by Royce Vavrek 
Performed in English with English supertitles

BESS McNEILL: Kiera Duffy 
JAN NYMAN: John Moore* 
DODO McNEILL: Eve Gigliotti 
BESS’s MOTHER: Patricia Schuman 
DR. RICHARDSON: David Portillo 
TERRY: Zachary James* 
MINISTER: Marcus DeLoach

CONDUCTOR: Steven Osgood* 
DIRECTOR: James Darrah* 
SET DESIGN: Adam Rigg* 
COSTUME DESIGN: Chrisi Karvonides* 
PROJECTIONS DESIGN: Adam Larsen* 
LIGHTING DESIGN: Pablo Santiago*

*Opera Philadelphia debut

Support for the Breaking the Waves audio stream has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Major support for Breaking the Waves has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the William Penn Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation at the recommendation of Daniel K. Meyer, M.D. Additional support is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, and OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Additional commissioning support is provided by Allen Freedman & Judith Brick Freedman, and Chris Ahearn & Marla Mayer. The Composer in Residence program is made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.