Lincoln in the Bardo becomes opera at Metropolitan Opera

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

Composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek have adapted George Saunders' Booker Prize-winning novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo' into an opera for its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The work is set in Georgetown's Oakhill Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln grieves the death of his eleven-year-old son whilst surrounded by ghosts who resist accepting their deaths.

The opera draws on the Tibetan Buddhist concept of the bardo, the period between physical death and rebirth. The deceased characters refer to their coffins as 'sick-boxes' and can only find peace when they acknowledge their true state, at which point they vanish in a spectacular explosion of fireworks. Saunders invented the term 'matterlightblooming' for this effect, describing it as 'a little bit of a nod to James Joyce'.

Vavrek said the work, whilst appearing heavy, is 'effervescent, quite hilarious at times' with 'such heartbreak, and such joy'. Director Lileana Blain-Cruz noted that the opera shows 'people have desires and hungers, and we're silly and we're funny', honouring that life encompasses more than darkness. The characters' stories range from inspiring to tragic to ridiculous.

Lincoln in the Bardo becomes opera at Metropolitan Opera — Image: Clickorlando

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

'Lincoln in the Bardo' leaps from book to stage in Missy Mazzoli's new opera“Lincoln in the Bardo” is an opera set in a graveyard, featuring Abraham Lincoln grieving his son's death.Clickorlando · 14 Oct, 14:35
'Lincoln in the Bardo' leaps from book to stage in Missy Mazzoli's new opera“Lincoln in the Bardo” is an opera set in a graveyard, featuring Abraham Lincoln grieving his son's death.News4Jax · 14 Oct, 14:35

In this story: Missy Mazzoli · Royce Vavrek · George Saunders · Lileana Blain-Cruz · Abraham Lincoln · Metropolitan Opera · Oakhill Cemetery

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem