This month, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis will present the world premiere of This House, a new opera with a libretto by Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo Gerber, and a score by Ricky Ian Gordon. Based on a play written by Gerber, the opera follows Zoe Walker, who returns home to the Harlem brownstone where her family has lived for generations. Conflicts ensue over whether or not to renovate the history-rich building, which is filled with the family's legacy.
Nottage and Gerber, mother and daughter, explored their own familial relationship in adapting the play. Said Nottage: 鈥淎 daughter grappling with her legacy, a daughter grappling with her relationship to her mother, a daughter trying to decide if she wants to take this gift that her mother has offered her. Embedded in the themes we鈥檙e exploring is our relationship.鈥�
The premiere cast for This House includes mezzo-soprano Briana Hunter as Zoe, soprano Adrienne Danrich as the family matriarch Ida, and baritone Justin Austin as Zoe's brother Lindon. Sopranos Aundi Marie Moore and Brandie Inez Sutton; mezzo-soprano Kristy Swann; tenors Brad Bickhardt and Victor Robinson; baritone Christian Pursell; and bass Sankara Harouna round out the principal cast. Daniela Candillari will conduct Ricky Ian Gordon's score.
The production will be directed by James Robinson, with sets by Allen Moyer, costumers by Montana Levi Blanco, projections by Greg Emetaz, lighting by Marcus Doshi, and choreography by Se谩n Curran.
This House is the second opera by Nottage and Gordon, following Intimate Apparel, which premiered Off-Broadway via Lincoln Center Theater in 2022. It is also the first professional collaboration between Nottage and Gerber, and the mother-daughter duo have already received a commission by the Metropolitan Opera to write a second opera, In The Rush, with composer Carlos Simon.
This House will run May 31-June 29. For more information, visit .
