Teatro Grattacielo will present an America 250 double bill in New York City this November, pairing the world premiere of its first commissioned opera, Jefferson Lives!, with a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s Suor Angelica.
The performances are scheduled for November 7 at 4 p.m. and November 8 at 3 p.m. at The Sam at The Flea Theater, located at 20 Thomas Street in New York. Tickets for the program start at $60.
The double bill brings together two works that examine freedom, institutional authority and individual conviction from different historical and personal perspectives. The program is being presented as the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Jefferson Lives! Receives World Premiere
Jefferson Lives! represents Teatro Grattacielo’s first commissioned opera and was created in collaboration with Polyhymnia. Joshua Daniel Nichols composed the music, Stefanos Koroneos wrote the libretto, and James Harrigan developed the concept and source material.
The new opera uses the American Revolution as the foundation for a story examining the human and psychological forces behind political change. Rather than treating the Revolution solely as a distant historical event, the production focuses on the people, ideas and pressures surrounding the struggle for independence.
The story incorporates the ghostly presence of John Adams alongside a modern figure who is unexpectedly drawn into the past. Through that encounter, the opera follows revolutionary ideas as they move from private thought into public action.
Its narrative explores the uncertainty, moral pressure and personal consequences behind the development of ideas about American independence and political liberty.
The world premiere forms part of the broader America 250 commemoration, marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Puccini’s Suor Angelica Explores Personal and Spiritual Freedom
Teatro Grattacielo will pair the new American opera with Suor Angelica, Puccini’s one-act work. The company’s new interpretation centers on themes of memory, absence, obedience and the experiences of women whose voices have been silenced.
In this production, Angelica is portrayed as the only living presence inside a convent inhabited by ghosts. The women represent figures who once obeyed, loved and surrendered parts of themselves within a system that demanded submission.
The interpretation creates a thematic connection between two otherwise distinct works. Jefferson Lives! examines liberty through civic and political struggle, while Suor Angelica considers freedom through deeply personal and spiritual experiences.
The productions consequently place an empire tightening its control alongside a convent demanding obedience. Both settings provide a framework for examining what happens when individual conviction is tested against institutions with considerably greater power.
Creative Team Brings Double Bill to New York
Saverio Alfieri will serve as conductor for the production, while Mai Camara is production manager. Camilla Tassi is responsible for projection design, Amara McNeil for lighting design and Angela Huff for costume design.
The announced cast includes Peterson Townsend as The Sleeper and tenor Brian Jeffers.
Nichols, Koroneos and Harrigan are also part of the creative team through their respective roles as composer, librettist, and creator of the concept and source material for Jefferson Lives!
The commissioned opera gives Teatro Grattacielo an opportunity to introduce a contemporary work addressing American history alongside an established opera by one of the best-known composers in the international operatic repertoire.
Double Bill Runs Approximately Two Hours and 15 Minutes
Jefferson Lives! has an estimated running time of approximately 50 minutes. It will be presented alongside Suor Angelica, with one 20-minute intermission separating the works.
The complete double bill is expected to run approximately two hours and 15 minutes.
By combining a world premiere centered on the political and psychological dimensions of the American Revolution with a new interpretation of Puccini’s exploration of personal sacrifice, Teatro Grattacielo is positioning the program as both a historical reflection and a contemporary examination of freedom. The two New York performances will bring those perspectives together as part of cultural programming surrounding the United States’ 250th anniversary.
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