10 Composers, 2 Directors, 1 Opera: 'Complications in Sue'

Opera Philadelphia is premiering Complications in Sue, a new work with a libretto by Michael R. Jackson and starring Justin Vivian Bond. The project grew from a conceit Bond had with Tilda Swinton about two bodies sharing one mind, and it moved forward after Anthony Roth Costanzo, as the company’s new general director and president, embraced the idea.

Jackson traced Sue’s life in 10 scenes representing 10 decades, and the company recruited 10 composers to each write a segment of roughly eight minutes, an approach inspired by the Surrealist exquisite corpse game. Contributors range from established opera writers to newer voices, including Missy Mazzoli, Rene Orth, Nathalie Joachim, Alistair Coleman, Nico Muhly, Errollyn Wallen and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

The production is directed by Zack Winokur and Raja Feather Kelly, with four vocalists carrying most of the singing — Kiera Duffy, Nicky Spence, Rehanna Thelwell and Nicholas Newton — and Caren Levine conducting.

complications in sue, opera philadelphia, michael r. jackson, justin vivian bond, tilda swinton, anthony roth costanzo, missy mazzoli, nico muhly, zack winokur, raja feather kelly