Opera New Works Collective 2025

Black Coffee

As a recent St. Louis transplant, Makena is struggling to find community. After all, how exactly does one make friends as a grown-up? From googling “how to make friends” to trying a local book club, Makena isn’t ruling anything out. As her dad often reminds her, “Have patience and you’ll land the friends of a lifetime.” Poignant and funny by turns, Makena’s story is immediately relatable to anyone who has ever searched for a village of their own.

Family Style

17-year-old Mia lives with her father, Ping. They’ve scrimped and saved for years so that Ping can open his own Taiwanese restaurant after a lifetime of working as a dishwasher. However, Ping refuses to pursue his dream until Mia graduates and goes to college. Her education must come first. One day, a promisingly large envelope arrives from Mia’s top-choice university…but will her own dream come at too steep a price?

Kandake

In the ancient African kingdom of Kush, queens were known as the Kandake. Discover the true story of Kandake Amanirenas, the warrior queen who defied the might of the Roman Empire. When Amanirenas learns that a Roman army has captured the Kush city of Philae, she’ll stop at nothing to protect her people’s liberty…including single-handed combat against a deadly centurion. This action-packed opera brings to vivid life one of history’s greatest unknown heroines.

I was so impressed to see the New Works Collective last year, I might have been among the first to buy a ticket to see the Opera New Works Collective 2025. I eagerly anticipated my viewing and attendance on February 7, 2025. 

My Notes:

Black Coffee missed an opportunity to milk the Book Club as "not for me" but it was a sweet story of a girl trying to make a friend as an adult. 

Family Style had its moments as father and daughter connected. Another opportunity to enhance a memorable bit around the father character's love of food preparation as the father character proclaims the "dreams" that included the broccoli dreaming of being a part of a delicious meal. 

Kandake was based on a true story from history and the queen prevails as they defeat the pursuing Romans Army of Augustus Cesar. The king perished too quickly in this action but the celebration of the victory with beautiful costumes and confetti falling from the sky (almost like the Super Bowl) was stunning.

The Librettists and the Music Composters of all three operas were available after the performances to answer questions. If felt to me a bit like a Q&A with advertising agency creative directors and copywriters/account managers.