Young People's Chorus of New York City to Make Metropolitan Opera Debut in Jake Heggie's DEAD MAN WALKING

The story is based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir, with a libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally.

By: Sep. 22, 2023
Young People's Chorus of New York City to Make Metropolitan Opera Debut in Jake Heggie's DEAD MAN WALKING

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City , fresh off an international tour that included five gold medal wins - three as World Champions - at the World Choir Games, will make its Metropolitan Opera debut when it performs in the company premiere of Jake Heggie’s masterpiece Dead Man Walking on Tuesday, September 26, at 6:30PM. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir, with a libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally, the story follows Sister Helen’s fight for the soul of a condemned murderer. After his debut with a critically acclaimed production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the 2022–23 season, Tony Award–winning director Ivo van Hove returns with a staging that explores the nature of love, forgiveness, and redemption.

“YPC is thrilled to make its Metropolitan Opera debut and perform with the world’s most prestigious opera house,” said Francisco J. Núñez, YPC Founder and Artistic Director. “It’s an honor to step onto its grand stage and lend our voices to Jake Heggie’s masterpiece.”

24 YPC choristers ages 8-11 will join the star-studded cast of Dead Man Walking. Performers include Grammy Award–winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as Sister Helen, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as death-row inmate Joseph De Rocher, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose, and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who originated the role of Sister Helen in the opera’s 2000 premiere, as De Rocher’s mother.  Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Met’s Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director, conducts what has become the most performed contemporary work of the past two decades. Steven Osgood conducts the performances on October 8 and 12.

Following Opening Night, YPC performs in the production’s eight additional performances, concluding on Saturday, October 21. For further details on Dead Man Walking, please click here. 

For prices and ticket information, please call 212.362.6000 or visit metopera.org. Special rates for groups of ten or more are available by calling 212.341.5410 or visitingmetopera.org/groups.

For more information about YPC, please visit www.ypc.org.

About Young People’s Chorus of New York City

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) is a multicultural youth chorus internationally renowned for its superb virtuosity, brilliant showmanship, and innovative model of diversity. Founded by Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year, YPC’s mission and values are deeply rooted in providing children of all cultural and economic backgrounds with a unique program of music education and choral performance. YPC is committed to uplifting our youth and providing pathways to success through the arts so that each child, no matter what race, gender, socioeconomic background, or religion can reach their full potential. Among YPC’s many awards is America’s highest honor for youth programs, a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, which was presented to members of YPC at the White House.  In 2023, YPC won five gold medals – three as World Champions – at the 12th World Choir Games in the Republic of Korea. Under the direction of YPC’s Creative Director, Elizabeth Núñez, YPC also earned the distinction of “Choir of the World” in July 2018 at the International Choral Kathaumixw (Powell River, British Columbia), marking the first time a North American chorus has ever won this title in the 34-year history of Kathaumixw. www.ypc.org.
 

Photo credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera




RELATED STORIES - Opera

1
City Lyric Opera Unveils New Season Celebrating Individual Artistry and Community Collabor Photo
City Lyric Opera Unveils New Season Celebrating Individual Artistry and Community Collaboration

City Lyric Opera has announced a shift in its company structure and an exciting lineup for its Spring 2024 programming. For seven seasons, City Lyric Opera has enchanted audiences with grand stage productions and intimate salon concerts. Now, the company is embarking on a new chapter that puts artists front and center, celebrating the individual artistry that makes the New York music scene thrive.

2
Opera Steamboat Names New General Director And CEO Photo
Opera Steamboat Names New General Director And CEO

Today the Opera Steamboat Board of Trustees announced that Julie Maykowski has been appointed General Director and CEO.

3
Long Beach Opera Announces Gift of $1.25 Million from Carol Richards, $100,000 G Photo
Long Beach Opera Announces Gift of $1.25 Million from Carol Richards, $100,000 Grant from Perenchio Foundation and More

​​​​​​​Long Beach Opera announces that it has received the largest single gift in the company's history of $1.25 million from long-time Board member Carol Richards. Richards served on LBO's Board from the company's inception in 1979 until her passing in 2021, at which time she included Long Beach Opera in her estate plans with this historic gift, which recently came to fruition.

4
Opera Naples Unveils 2023/2024 Season Featuring IOIANTHE, CARMEN & More Photo
Opera Naples Unveils 2023/2024 Season Featuring IOIANTHE, CARMEN & More

Opera Naples Announces Exciting 2023/2024 Season with diverse performances and collaborations. Don't miss the Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars and the Winter Dreams Gala. Get your tickets now!

More Hot Stories For You

Videos


SongStudio: Nicholas Phan Master Class in Opera SongStudio: Nicholas Phan Master Class
Carnegie Hall (1/23-1/23)
Diana Damrau / Helmut Deutsch in Opera Diana Damrau / Helmut Deutsch
Carnegie Hall (2/06-2/06)
Regula Mühlemann / Tatiana Korsunskaya in Opera Regula Mühlemann / Tatiana Korsunskaya
Carnegie Hall (5/08-5/08)
SongStudio: Young Artists Recital in Opera SongStudio: Young Artists Recital
Carnegie Hall (1/27-1/27)
Ema Nikolovska / Howard Watkins in Opera Ema Nikolovska / Howard Watkins
Carnegie Hall (3/28-3/28)
Matthias Goerne / Evgeny Kissin in Opera Matthias Goerne / Evgeny Kissin
Carnegie Hall (4/25-4/25)
SongStudio: Graham Johnson Master Class in Opera SongStudio: Graham Johnson Master Class
Carnegie Hall (1/22-1/22)
Justin Austin / Howard Watkins in Opera Justin Austin / Howard Watkins
Carnegie Hall (3/05-3/05)
SongStudio: Renée Fleming Master Class in Opera SongStudio: Renée Fleming Master Class
Carnegie Hall (1/26-1/26)
SongStudio: Angel Blue Master Class in Opera SongStudio: Angel Blue Master Class
Carnegie Hall (1/24-1/24)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW