The Comet / Poppea brings together seemingly disparate worlds connected by stories of cultural transformation. It juxtaposes Claudio Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea), an Italian opera from 1643 unfolding among the social divisions of ancient Rome; and the world premiere of The Comet, based on the 1924 science-fiction short story by sociologist and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois. Set in 1920s New York City, “The Comet” depicts a Black man and white woman as the only survivors after a comet hits Earth.
Presented on a turntable divided in two halves, these worlds unfold simultaneously, with the stage’s rotation creating a visual and sonic spiral for audiences—inviting associations, dissociations, collisions, and confluences.
“As the piece goes on, those two works start to leak into each other,” observes composer George Lewis. “Drawing on Du Bois’s own concept of ‘double consciousness,’ the opera is structured around a number of these doublings: points of repetition or intersection that underscore the dialogue between the two works and the relevance of that dialogue today.”
As director Yuval Sharon explains, “The Comet / Poppea explores exclusion in classical music by creating an uneasy tessellation between the Baroque and the contemporary, and by enacting the experience of double consciousness. It begins as a critique of the institution of opera and ends as a justification of the art form’s radical potential: in the unexpected harmony to be discovered in juxtaposition and its ability to invite a contemplation of both timely and timeless struggles.”
Developed over six years, The Comet / Poppea is realized through a landmark partnership among organizations across the United States, produced by Anthony Roth Costanzo and Cath Brittan, The Industry, AMOC* (American Modern Opera Company) Curtis Institute of Music, and Yale Schwarzman Center.
Following the performance of The Comet / Poppea on Sunday, June 16 please join director Yuval Sharon, composer George Lewis, and librettist Douglas Kearney for a conversation on the themes and development of the opera.
The Comet / Poppea
Concept and direction: Yuval Sharon
Music composition (The Comet): George Lewis
Libretto: Douglas Kearney** based on a short story by W.E.B. Du Bois
Music composition (L'incoronazione di Poppea): Claudio Monteverdi
Libretto: Giovanni Francesco Busenello
Music director: Marc Lowenstein
Scenic design: Mimi Lien
Lighting design: John Torres
Costume design: Oana Botez
Sound design: Mark Grey
Dramaturgy: Robert Gooding-Williams and Wendy Heller
Cast
The Comet / Poppea features a rotating cast of performers from Los Angeles and New York. Engagements listed below are subject to change.
Lindsay Patterson Abdou (Love / Nellie). Performing: June 16, 2pm; June 20, 5pm; June 21, 8pm; & June 22, 2pm
Cedric Berry** (Jim / Mercury). Performing June 15, 8pm; June 20, 5pm; June 21, 8pm; & June 23, 2pm
Amanda Lynn Bottoms (Ottone / Virtue). Performing: All Performances
Anthony Roth Costanzo*** (Nero / Julia’s Father). Performing: June 14, 8pm; June 15, 8pm; June 16, 2pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 8pm; June 22, 2pm; June 23, 2pm
Kiera Duffy (Julia). Performing: June 14, 8pm; June 16, 2pm; June 18, 8pm; June 20, 5pm; June 21, 8pm; June 22, 8pm; & June 23, 2pm
James Hayden** (Seneca). Performing: All Performances
Laurel Irene (Julia). Performing: June 15, 8pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 5pm; & June 22, 2pm
Eric Jurenas (Nero / Julia’s Father) Performing: June 18, 8pm; June 20, 5pm; June 21, 5pm; & June 22, 8pm
Joanna Lynn-Jacobs (Poppea). Performing: June 16, 2pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 5pm; & June 22, 2pm
Joelle Lamarre (Love / Nellie). Performing: June 14, 8pm; June 15, 8pm; June 18, 8pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 5pm; June 22, 8pm; & June 23, 2pm
Whitney Morrison (Ottavia / "Friend" / Fortune). Performing: June 14, 8pm; June 15, 8pm; June 18, 8pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 5pm; June 22, 8pm; & June 23, 2pm
Davóne Tines*** (Jim / Mercury). Performing June 14, 8pm; June 16, 2pm; June 18, 8pm; June 20, 8pm; June 21, 5pm; June 22, 2pm; & June 22, 8pm
Nardus Williams (Poppea). Performing: June 14, 8pm; June 15, 8pm; June 18, 8pm; June 20, 5pm; June 21, 8pm; June 22, 8pm; & June 23, 2pm
Mikaela Elson (Ottone / Virtue, understudy)
Ben Lin (Seneca, understudy)
Instrumentalists
Doug Balliett*** (Double Bass)
Matt Cook (Percussion)
Gabriel Crist (Harpsichord)
Miranda Cuckson*** (Viola)
Emi Ferguson*** (Flute)
Keir GoGwilt*** (Violin)
Richard Valitutto (Piano)
Coleman Itzkoff*** (Cello)
Eric Tinkerhess (Baroque Cello)
Jason Koji Yoshida (Theorbo)
** The Industry Company Member
*** AMOC* Company Member
The Comet / Poppea is made possible with generous support from Lead Sponsor: Ellen Michelson.
Additional generous support for The Comet / Poppea is provided by Founding Sponsors: Carol Stein, Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation, Jeff Goodby and June Li.
The Comet, composed by George Lewis with Libretto by Douglas Kearney is commissioned by AMOC*
The Comet / Poppea is made possible through generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Wonmi’s WAREHOUSE Programs is organized by Alex Sloane, Associate Curator, and is produced by Amelia Charter, Producer of Performance and Programs with Michele Huizar, Programming Assistant, The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles.
Wonmi's WAREHOUSE Programs is founded by Wonmi & Kihong Kwon and Family.
