Amelia

By Daron Aric Hagen

World Premiere - Seattle Opera Commission
Libretto by Gardner McFall
Story by Stephen Wadsworth

A first time mother-to-be, whose psyche has been scarred by the loss of her pilot-father in Vietnam, must break free from anxiety to embrace healing and renewal for the sake of her husband and child in this original story unfolding over a 30-year period beginning in 1966. Amelia interweaves one woman’s emotional journey, the American experience in Vietnam, and elements of the Daedalus and Icarus myth to explore man’s fascination with flight and the dilemmas that arise when vehicles of flight are used for exploration, adventure, and war. With an intensely personal libretto by American poet Gardner McFall (The Pilot’s Daughter), whose father was a Navy pilot lost during Vietnam, this new American opera moves from loss to recuperation, paralysis to flight, as the protagonist, Amelia, ultimately embraces her life and the creative force of love and family.

In English with English Captions
Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, with 1 intermission
at McCaw Hall

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Listen

Insight to Amelia by General Director Speight Jenkins. Hear more audio clips by launching the Seattle Opera Audio Player.

Features

Video

Amelia Preview Trailer

Watch the trailer to catch a glimpse of the story, the characters, and the themes of this brand new world premiere production. Personal, relatable, and truly tied to Seattle, Amelia is a true original American story!

Videos

Making of Amelia Series

Each week for seven weeks preceding the opening of Amelia, we are debuting new video segments on the process of creating the new opera.

Audio

The Commissioning of Amelia

Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins, librettist Gardner McFall, and composer Daron Hagen trace the collaborative development of Amelia, the first new commission at Seattle Opera in over 25 years.