Golda Schultz sings Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 — a haunting evocation of childhood memories — plus arias by Stravinsky and Carlisle Floyd. Alongside these, Kwamé Ryan conducts music by two quintessential American iconoclasts: Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question and a new concerto by George Lewis, featuring the piano-and-percussion quartet Yarn/Wire.

Conductor- Kwamé Ryan
Soprano- Golda Schultz

Golda Schultz sings Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 — a haunting evocation of childhood memories — plus arias by Stravinsky and Carlisle Floyd. Alongside these, Kwamé Ryan conducts music by two quintessential American iconoclasts: Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question and a new concerto by George Lewis, featuring the piano-and-percussion quartet Yarn/Wire.

Conductor- Kwamé Ryan
Soprano- Golda Schultz

Golda Schultz sings Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 — a haunting evocation of childhood memories — plus arias by Stravinsky and Carlisle Floyd. Alongside these, Kwamé Ryan conducts music by two quintessential American iconoclasts: Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question and a new concerto by George Lewis, featuring the piano-and-percussion quartet Yarn/Wire.

Conductor- Kwamé Ryan
Soprano- Golda Schultz

Floyd’s first opera is based on his own short story “A Lengthening Shadow,” which takes place in the sandhills of the Carolinas and features familiar themes of poverty and religious fundamentalism. Sadie and Micah plan to marry, against the wishes of Sadie’s family who oppose the relationship because their families belong to different religious sects. Despite their poor land prospects, they dream of working hard and building a future together. While Sadie’s aunt Sue attempts to dissuade her, tragedy strikes, dashing the young couples’ hopes.

This year, Opera at the University of South Carolina is celebrating Floyd’s centenary and his South Carolina roots. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s short story, this opera explores themes of guilt, conscience, and redemption. Presented in a double bill with Nino Rota’s La scoiattolo in gamba.

This year, Opera at the University of South Carolina is celebrating Floyd’s centenary and his South Carolina roots. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s short story, this opera explores themes of guilt, conscience, and redemption. Presented in a double bill with Nino Rota’s La scoiattolo in gamba.

Floyd’s first opera is based on his own short story “A Lengthening Shadow,” which takes place in the sandhills of the Carolinas and features familiar themes of poverty and religious fundamentalism. Sadie and Micah plan to marry, against the wishes of Sadie’s family who oppose the relationship because their families belong to different religious sects. Despite their poor land prospects, they dream of working hard and building a future together. While Sadie’s aunt Sue attempts to dissuade her, tragedy strikes, dashing the young couples’ hopes.

Join us for a double-bill of Carlisle Floyd's haunting one-act operas in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Join us for a double-bill of Carlisle Floyd's haunting one-act operas in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Join us for a double-bill of Carlisle Floyd's haunting one-act operas in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Join us for a double-bill of Carlisle Floyd's haunting one-act operas in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

We end our season with a powerful adaptation of Steinbeck's classic novella by the father of American opera Carlisle Floyd. Of Mice and Men delves deep into the American psyche and brings to life the unbreakable bond between George and Lennie, migrant farm workers striving for the American Dream. Directed by Kristine McIntyre, our production uses projections to immerse the audience in Lennie's perspective, blending intimate humanity with cinematic scope in a gripping, tragic journey.

This new production is co-produced by Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Houston Grand Opera, Florida State University, and Des Moines Metro Opera.

We end our season with a powerful adaptation of Steinbeck's classic novella by the father of American opera Carlisle Floyd. Of Mice and Men delves deep into the American psyche and brings to life the unbreakable bond between George and Lennie, migrant farm workers striving for the American Dream. Directed by Kristine McIntyre, our production uses projections to immerse the audience in Lennie's perspective, blending intimate humanity with cinematic scope in a gripping, tragic journey.

This new production is co-produced by Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Houston Grand Opera, Florida State University, and Des Moines Metro Opera.

We end our season with a powerful adaptation of Steinbeck's classic novella by the father of American opera Carlisle Floyd. Of Mice and Men delves deep into the American psyche and brings to life the unbreakable bond between George and Lennie, migrant farm workers striving for the American Dream. Directed by Kristine McIntyre, our production uses projections to immerse the audience in Lennie's perspective, blending intimate humanity with cinematic scope in a gripping, tragic journey.

This new production is co-produced by Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Houston Grand Opera, Florida State University, and Des Moines Metro Opera.

Celebrate the 100th birthday of Carlisle Floyd, one of America’s most influential opera composers, with a landmark Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall on June 20, 2026. This unforgettable evening features world-renowned artists, orchestral musicians, and the choirs of the University of Houston and Florida State University, performing beloved favorites like “Ain’t It A Pretty Night” alongside rarely heard works and selections from Willie Stark and Cold Sassy Tree.

Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice & Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie, a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things, from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtation set unhappy young wife.

This new production is co-produced by Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Florida State University.

Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice & Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie, a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things, from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtation set unhappy young wife.

This new production is co-produced by Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Florida State University.

Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice & Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie, a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things, from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtation set unhappy young wife.

This new production is co-produced by Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Florida State University.

Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice & Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie, a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things, from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtation set unhappy young wife.

This new production is co-produced by Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Florida State University.

Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice & Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie, a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things, from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtation set unhappy young wife.

This new production is co-produced by Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Florida State University.

A deeply American masterpiece, Susannah, launches HGO’s 2026-27 season, continuing the company’s centenary celebration of opera icon Carlisle Floyd.

Set in the hills of Tennessee and inspired by Floyd’s own roots as a minister’s son, the story follows Susannah, a young woman whose life is shattered after she’s seen bathing in a creek by church elders, leading to cruel gossip, judgment, and finally, her harrowing assault. Shared through a genre-blending score infused with revival hymns and Appalachian folksong—and a libretto, also by Floyd, written in colorful regional dialect—the opera will be presented in a new staging from celebrated soprano-turned-director Patricia Racette. Soprano Angel Blue, an international sensation, makes her role debut as Susannah, with leading baritone Rod Gilfry as the Reverend Olin Blitch and rising tenors Bille Bruley and Aaron Blake as Sam and Little Bat. Maestro James Gaffigan conducts.

A deeply American masterpiece, Susannah, launches HGO’s 2026-27 season, continuing the company’s centenary celebration of opera icon Carlisle Floyd.

Set in the hills of Tennessee and inspired by Floyd’s own roots as a minister’s son, the story follows Susannah, a young woman whose life is shattered after she’s seen bathing in a creek by church elders, leading to cruel gossip, judgment, and finally, her harrowing assault. Shared through a genre-blending score infused with revival hymns and Appalachian folksong—and a libretto, also by Floyd, written in colorful regional dialect—the opera will be presented in a new staging from celebrated soprano-turned-director Patricia Racette. Soprano Angel Blue, an international sensation, makes her role debut as Susannah, with leading baritone Rod Gilfry as the Reverend Olin Blitch and rising tenors Bille Bruley and Aaron Blake as Sam and Little Bat. Maestro James Gaffigan conducts.

A deeply American masterpiece, Susannah, launches HGO’s 2026-27 season, continuing the company’s centenary celebration of opera icon Carlisle Floyd.

Set in the hills of Tennessee and inspired by Floyd’s own roots as a minister’s son, the story follows Susannah, a young woman whose life is shattered after she’s seen bathing in a creek by church elders, leading to cruel gossip, judgment, and finally, her harrowing assault. Shared through a genre-blending score infused with revival hymns and Appalachian folksong—and a libretto, also by Floyd, written in colorful regional dialect—the opera will be presented in a new staging from celebrated soprano-turned-director Patricia Racette. Soprano Angel Blue, an international sensation, makes her role debut as Susannah, with leading baritone Rod Gilfry as the Reverend Olin Blitch and rising tenors Bille Bruley and Aaron Blake as Sam and Little Bat. Maestro James Gaffigan conducts.

Inspired by the biblical story of Susannah and the Elders, it’s about an 18-year-old girl named Susannah who is condemned as a sinner by the church leaders and citizens of her rural Appalachian town for innocently bathing in a creek.

San Diego Opera had a long association with Floyd, producing five of his operas, beginning with “Susannah,” from 1981 to 2001. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Inspired by the biblical story of Susannah and the Elders, it’s about an 18-year-old girl named Susannah who is condemned as a sinner by the church leaders and citizens of her rural Appalachian town for innocently bathing in a creek.

San Diego Opera had a long association with Floyd, producing five of his operas, beginning with “Susannah,” from 1981 to 2001. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Inspired by the biblical story of Susannah and the Elders, it’s about an 18-year-old girl named Susannah who is condemned as a sinner by the church leaders and citizens of her rural Appalachian town for innocently bathing in a creek.

San Diego Opera had a long association with Floyd, producing five of his operas, beginning with “Susannah,” from 1981 to 2001. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.