Music by Michael Dellaira

Libretto by J. D. McClatchy

Based on the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

the Leopard

In 1860, during the Risorgimento, Garibaldi has invaded Sicily and is sweeping the country towards a unified Italy. “For things to remain the same everything must change” declares the young and idealistic Tancredi to his uncle, Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina. The Prince, known as The Leopard because of his commanding personality, is of the old school, and he now faces a society in upheaval, and is forced to choose between decay and progress, between the downfall of the nobility and the future of his family. Based on the internationally acclaimed 1958 novel Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard will be Michael Dellaira's third opera with J. D. McClatchy and was the last completed full-length work by the famed librettist.

PRESS

“...a smart, stylish and musically involving drama about a way of life vanishing in the tides of time and history. ... McClatchy's libretto is superbly crafted ... Dellaira's score is dotted with exquisite moments ... Let's hope that the opera attracts the attention of an enterprising company for a second, professional production.” - Opera (UK)

“a solid exploration of a classic literary work... Tightly scored... Dellaira has interwoven a whole system of motifs to evoke strong emotion... McClatchy’s libretto is accessibly written in a crisp and comprehensible American vernacular... Dellaira accomplished a vital goal for any operatic adaptation: he added something new.” - European Conservative

“The score is neat, transparent, and light on its feet. Though plenty sophisticated, it dares to be simple.” - National Review

CREATORS

Information

Download libretto

Duration 120' / two acts, one intermission

Commission Commissioned and developed by American Opera Projects, made possible, in part, through generous funding by The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and The Paul Underwood Charitable Trust.

Premiere March 5, 2022 at the Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in a production by the Frost School of Music.

Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Kim Josephson, baritone (the Prince); Robynne Redmon, mezzo-soprano (Princess Stella); Jeffrey Buchman, stage direction; Alan Johnson, Music Direction; Cameron Anderson, set design.

Roles (12) 4 principal roles (soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone) and 8 supporting roles (2 sopranos, mezzo, 2 tenors, baritone, 2 basses)

Instrumentation fl/picc; ob/E.hn; 2 cl/B.cl; bn; 2 hn; tp; tb; perc; hp; 12-string gtr; strings.

Development artists / partners Berklee College of Music, the Boston Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Lauren Cook, Martin Case, Anna Dugan, Brittany Bellacosa, Hidenori Inoue, Tim Sirinunthikal, Michael Gracco, Oliver Sewell, Blake Friedman, Janet Todd, Phlippe L’Esperance, Kayla Fuentes, Anne Shikany, Andrew Altenbach, Scott Rednour