(Photo credit: Erik Berg)

Opera Philadelphia has announced its 2024-25 season.

First up is the American premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “The Listeners,” an opera based on an original story by Jordan Tannahill. The work explores how far Americans are willing to go to find a “sense of place and purpose, and the way in which confident, charming leaders can exploit these needs to their own ends.”

The opera stars Nicole Heaston, in her company debut, alongside Kevin Burdette, Troy Cook, Lindsey Reynolds, Rehanna Thelwell, and Aaron Crouch. Lileana Blain-Cruz directs.

“It’s both a psychological thriller and an intimate portrait of modern family life,” Mazzoli said in an official release by the company. “From the first words that are sung – ‘This is how we live now. Unbelievable.’ – to the shocking final twist, this piece has been a joy to write and a thrill to bring to life with our amazing creative team, led by director Lileana Blain-Cruz. Jordan Tannahill’s story and Royce Vavrek’s libretto cut through to the reality of the chaos and longing that roils underneath every seemingly ‘normal’ family, and in the hearts of everyone who dares to pursue their true destiny.”

Performance Dates: Sept. 25 – 29, 2024

Then comes “The Anonymous Lover” by Joseph Bologne. The opera stars Symone Harcum, Khanyiso Gwenxan, Johnathan McCullough, Ashley Marie Robillard, Joshua Blue, and Sun-Ly Pierce. Kirsten Greenidge presents a new adaptation of the work that is directed by Dennis Whitehead Darling and conducted by Kalena Bovell.

Performance Dates: Jan. 31 & Feb. 2, 2025

The season ends with “Don Giovanni” in a production directed by Alison Moritz. Corrado Rovaris conducts the opera, which stars Timothy Murray, Olivia Smith, Elizabeth Reiter, Nicholas Newton, Amanda Sheriff, Kevin Godínez, and Raymond Aceto.

Performance Dates: April 25 – May 4, 2025