QUEER OPERA 2025
our singers
the scenes
production team

​"Pur ti miro" from The Coronation of Poppea

“Pur ti miro,” the final duet of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, unites Emperor Nerone and Poppea in a sensuous celebration of love and victory. Having overcome rivals and obstacles, the pair revel in their triumph, vowing eternal devotion. Their voices intertwine in tender, ecstatic counterpoint, creating a musical embodiment of desire and seduction. The duet closes the opera not with moral reflection, but with an intoxicating affirmation of passion, power, and the intoxicating allure of love fulfilled.​

 

The opening scene from The Marriage of Figaro

The opening scene of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro introduces Figaro and Susanna as they prepare for their wedding. Figaro measures space for their new marital bed while Susanna admires her bridal hat. Their happiness is clouded by Count Almaviva’s unwanted advances toward Susanna, hinting at conflict to come. Through playful banter, the scene contrasts Figaro’s practical concerns with Susanna’s awareness of the Count’s schemes, setting the stage for a comedy of love, power, and clever resistance.

​

Duet and Trio from The Elixir of Love

In Act I of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Nemorino, tricked into believing cheap wine is a magical love potion, grows suddenly confident in his pursuit of Adina. Belcore counters with bold military swagger, attempting to claim her affection. Amused, Adina entertains both suitors without committing, enjoying the rivalry. The playful duet and trio highlight Nemorino’s newfound bravado, Belcore’s arrogance, and Adina’s cleverness, foreshadowing the opera’s mix of comedy, deception, and heartfelt longing in the unfolding love triangle.​

​

Final Scene from Carmen

In the final scene of Bizet’s Carmen, Don José confronts Carmen outside the bullring as cheering crowds celebrate Escamillo’s triumph inside. Desperate and jealous, Don José pleads with Carmen to return to him, but she defiantly refuses, declaring her freedom above all else. As the crowd roars, their confrontation intensifies. Carmen throws away Don José’s ring, sealing her rejection. In a fit of rage and despair, Don José stabs her, killing her as Escamillo is hailed victorious.​

 

Pocketwatch Duet from Die Fledermaus

In Act II of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, the “Pocketwatch Duet” unfolds between Eisenstein and Rosalinda, disguised as a Hungarian countess. Rosalinda cleverly uses Eisenstein’s flirtations to confirm his unfaithfulness. When he carelessly reveals his pocketwatch, she slyly takes it as proof of his betrayal. Their playful, sparkling exchange—full of waltz-like charm and comic irony—highlights themes of disguise, deception, and marital mischief. The duet captures the operetta’s blend of elegance, humor, and satire on love and fidelity.

 

Opening Scene from Trouble in Tahiti

The opening scene of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti introduces a jazz trio who serve as a satirical Greek chorus, singing brightly about the “little white house” and the supposed joys of suburban life. Their upbeat, commercial-style jingle contrasts sharply with the reality of Dinah and Sam’s troubled marriage. Through this ironic framing, Bernstein exposes the emptiness beneath the idealized American dream, setting the stage for a story of disconnection, materialism, and the search for authentic happiness.

​

 

Duet from Trouble in Tahiti

In Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, this duet reveals both tenderness and tension in their fractured marriage. They unexpectedly encounter each other on the street and awkwardly discuss having lunch together. Though the moment suggests a chance at reconciliation, each makes excuses and avoids true intimacy. Their hesitant exchange, set against lyrical yet uneasy music, underscores their inability to connect, highlighting the gap between desire for closeness and fear of vulnerability.

​

"One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story

In West Side Story, “One Hand, One Heart” is the tender duet in which Tony and Maria, separated by rival gangs and conflict, pledge their eternal love. Imagining a wedding ceremony, they exchange vows and dream of a shared life together. The music, intimate and lyrical, contrasts with the surrounding violence, capturing the purity of their devotion. This moment of hope and idealism becomes tragically poignant, as their imagined union foreshadows the heartbreaking fate awaiting them.