Opera Philadelphia Launches Free BREAKING THE WAVES Audio Stream

When Opera Philadelphia's new adaptation of Lars von Trier's searing Oscar-nominated film, Breaking the Waves made its world premiere in September 2016, the New York Times declared the opera "ambitious, accomplished, [and] dramatically direct," and Opera News said it "stands among the best 21st-century American operas yet produced." It has since earned an International Opera Award nomination for Best World Premiere and made its New York debut with Beth Morrison Projects' Prototype Festival to continued acclaim.

Now, starting on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 1 p.m., home audiences the world over can listen to this spellbinding production in its entirety at operaphila.org as the company unveils a free on-demand audio stream of the world premiere production that took the opera world by storm, capping off an online celebration in honor of Women's History Month.

An Opera Philadelphia commission from the creative team of composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, and director James Darrah, it was Breaking the Waves that launched the company's fall 2016-2017 season. The premiere proved a sensation. The Wall Street Journal called it "savage, heartbreaking and thoroughly original," and for Parterre, Breaking the Waves was, quite simply, "the most startling and moving new American opera in memory."

Supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and produced by Opera Philadelphia with audio by George Blood L.P., the upcoming audio stream was captured on September 29 at the penultimate performance of the opera's opening run, which starred soprano Kiera Duffy as Bess McNeill - in "an absolutely spectacular performance" (Opera News) - under the baton of Steven Osgood. Like Von Trier's groundbreaking film, the opera depicts a tragedy of conflicting ethical imperatives that ultimately serves as a meditation on the nature of goodness. The audio will be available for streaming on-demand at operaphila.org. The production includes explicit language, nudity, and sexual content, some of a violent nature. Recommended for mature audiences only.

The release of Breaking the Waves caps Opera Philadelphia's Women's History Month celebration devoted to shining a spotlight on women creating opera today. Throughout March, audiences will gain access to exclusive interviews, guest blog posts, and more on operaphila.org and Opera Philadelphia's social media channels.

• March 8: A new interview with esteemed director Robin Guarino, who will lead War Stories during Opera Philadelphia's festival, O17, next fall, explores her experience in the male-dominated field at operaphila.org.
• March 13-17: Breaking the Waves composer Missy Mazzoli takes over the Opera Philadelphia Instagram and Twitter accounts throughout the week with a peek at the contemporary innovators and women in history that have influenced her operatic life.
• March 22: Hannah Moscovitch, renowned playwright and the librettist of I Have No Stories to Tell You, making its Philadelphia Premiere next fall, reveals her path to success in a guest blog post for operaphila.org.
• March 29: Just before the Breaking the Waves audio cast release, Pulitzer-Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon and Opera Philadelphia Composer in Residence Rene Orth sit down with Opera Philadelphia's own New Works Administrator Sarah Williams for a Facebook LIVE discussion about what it takes to be a contemporary composer.

"We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this month with living history-making women such as Missy, Jennifer, Hannah, Rene, and Robin," said Opera Philadelphia New Works Administrator Sarah Williams. "From an opera written by a woman for a complex leading female character in Breaking the Waves, to other creative visionaries in the field (that just so happen to also be women), we honor their work and process by hearing from each of them."

Stay tuned to Opera Philadelphia's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for upcoming announcements, and follow along using #WomenInOpera.

About Opera Philadelphia

Opera Philadelphia is committed to embracing innovation and developing opera for the 21st century. Described as "the very model of a modern opera company" by the Washington Post, Opera Philadelphia is charting a bold new path to September 2017, when Opera Philadelphia will open its 2017-18 season with an immersive, 12-day festival featuring seven operatic happenings in six venues throughout the city. The first festival, O17, will feature three world premieres, plus the exclusive East Coast appearance of Barrie Kosky's groundbreaking production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, and a recital by superstar soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Opera Philadelphia will continue to present a spring season each year, including two additional productions in February and April, making it the only U.S. opera company producing an annual opera season that begins with a dynamic festival. For more information, visit www.operaphila.org.