World Premiere - Seattle Opera CommissionLibretto by Gardner McFallStory by Stephen Wadsworth
A first time mother-to-be, whose psyche has been scarred by the loss of her pilot-father in Vietnam, must break free from anxiety to embrace healing and renewal for the sake of her husband and child in this original story unfolding over a 30-year period beginning in 1966. Amelia interweaves one woman’s emotional journey, the American experience in Vietnam, and elements of the Daedalus and Icarus myth to explore man’s fascination with flight and the dilemmas that arise when vehicles of flight are used for exploration, adventure, and war. With an intensely personal libretto by American poet Gardner McFall (The Pilot’s Daughter), whose father was a Navy pilot lost during Vietnam, this new American opera moves from loss to recuperation, paralysis to flight, as the protagonist, Amelia, ultimately embraces her life and the creative force of love and family.
In English with English CaptionsApproximate Running Time: 2 hours, with 1 intermission at McCaw Hall
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Insight to Amelia by General Director Speight Jenkins. Hear more audio clips by launching the Seattle Opera Audio Player.
Watch this video with Director Stephen Wadsworth and Librettist Gardner McFall discussing how the music came to life. This video includes the moving “Letter Song” sung by the father before leaving on a dangerous mission.
Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins, librettist Gardner McFall, and composer Daron Hagen trace the collaborative development of Amelia, the first new commission at Seattle Opera in over 25 years.
Singers Nathan Gunn, Bill Burden, and Kate Lindsey discuss their reasons for working on this new project.
Director Stephen Wadsworth, popular with Seattle Opera audiences for his many Wagner works here, talks about his involvement with Speight Jenkins in the early days of this new commission.
This world premiere production creates places both familiar and exotic, spanning time and space.
$14.95
$12.50
Sat, May 8, 2010 7:30 PM
Sun, May 9, 2010 2:00 PM
Wed, May 12, 2010 7:30 PM
Sat, May 15, 2010 7:30 PM
Sun, May 16, 2010 2:00 PM
Wed, May 19, 2010 7:30 PM
Fri, May 21, 2010 7:30 PM
Sat, May 22, 2010 7:30 PM
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