The Diving Bell and the Butterfly at Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Based on the true story of journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor of French Elle magazine, this opera by composer Joby Talbot and librettist Gene Scheer explores resilience, memory, and the triumph of the human spirit. After suffering a stroke, Bauby is left with locked-in syndrome, fully conscious but unable to move or speak except for blinking, and dictates his memoir letter by letter through blinks. The West Coast premiere features a new chamber orchestration and stars baritone Jarrett Porter, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, tenor Richard Croft, and bass-baritone Philip Skinner, conducted by Nicole Paiement and directed by Brian Staufenbiel.