Stonewall (opera)

This article is about the NYC Opera. For NY University series of four mini-operas with the similar name, see The Stonewall Operas.

Stonewall
Opera by Iain Bell
LibrettistMark Campbell
LanguageEnglish
Premiere
21 June 2019 (2019-06-21)[1]
New York City Opera, Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center[1]
Scene from a 2022 production in Mexico City

Stonewall is an American opera about the 1969 Stonewall riots, the spark of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, which received its world premiere June 2019 in conjunction with Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, projected to be the world's largest LGBTQ event.[2] Stonewall was commissioned by New York City Opera (NYCO), and features music by Iain Bell, libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning Mark Campbell, and direction by Leonard Foglia.[3] The production is a 2019 Pride Initiative of the NYCO, an annual production of an LGBT-focused work each June in commemoration of Gay Pride Month.[3] The opera premiered in June 2019 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.[1][4] The opera was produced to honor both the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and the 75th anniversary of the NYCO.[5] Stonewall is the first opera to feature a transgender character written for an openly transgender singer, mezzo-soprano Liz Bouk.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Barone, Joshua (June 23, 2019). "Review: A 'Stonewall' Opera Reflects the Diversity of Queer History". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Leonhardt, Andrea (April 30, 2019). "Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan to Kick off WorldPride..." BK Reader. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Gans, Andrew (February 19, 2019). "Cast Set for World Premiere of New Opera Stonewall". Playbill. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2019). "New York City Opera Will Offer Free Performances of La bohème and Carmen in Bryant Park". Playbill. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Sasanow, Richard. "BWW Interview: Composer Iain Bell and Librettist Mark Campbell – A Match Made at Stonewall (and City Opera)". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 27, 2019.