Virgil Thomson's "The Mother of Us All," Presented in Collaboration With The Met Museum of Art and the New York Philharmonic and Featuring Juilliard Singers

NEW YORK –– Juilliard, in collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetLiveArts performance series and the New York Philharmonic, co-presents Virgil Thomson’s The Mother of Us All on February 8, 11, 12, and 14, 2020, at  7pm, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the American Wing’s Charles Engelhard Court. The new, site-specific staging, conducted by Daniela Candillari and directed by Louisa Proske, will feature soprano and alumna Felicia Moore as Susan B. Anthony, singers from Juilliard’s Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, and musicians from the New York Philharmonic.

Composed by Virgil Thomson with a libretto by Gertrude Stein, The Mother of Us All embodies a range of contradictions that, since the opera’s premiere at Columbia University in 1947, have only become deeper with time. The gaining of women’s suffrage was a great victory, but it was also a gateway to broader struggles over civil rights for women, African Americans, and other racial and sexual minorities.

The production is presented as part of Project 19, the New York Philharmonic’s multi-season initiative marking the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Learn more at nyphil.org/project19.

Tickets start at $140 and may be purchased online or by calling (888) 611-8076.

The cast features Felicia Moore (Susan B. Anthony), Erin Wagner (Anne), Libby Sokolowski (Gertrude S.), Gregory Feldmann (Virgil T.), William Socolof (Daniel Webster), Chance Jonas-O’Toole (Jo the Loiterer), Kyle Miller (Chris the Citizen), Carlyle Quinn (Indiana Elliot), Jaylyn Simmons (Angel More), Yvette Keong (Henrietta M.), Ian Matthew Castro (John Adams), Santiago Pizarro (Thaddeus Stevens), Deborah Love (Constance Fletcher), Alma Neuhaus (Jenny Reefer/Anna Hope), Lydia Grace Graham (Lillian Russell), James Rootring (Ulysses S. Grant), Ryan Hurley (Herman Atlan), Aaron Keeney (Donald Gallup), Richard Pittsinger (Andrew Johnson), and Jared Werlein (Indiana Elliott’s brother).

The design and creative team includes Barbara Samuels (Lighting Designer), Beth Goldenberg (Costume Designer), Joseph Fernandez Jr. (Production Stage Manager), Kit Fitzgerald (Video Designer), Mark Grey (Sound Designer and Engineer), Sara Brown (Scenic/Prop Designer), Zoe Scofield (Choreographer), Lisenka Heijboer (Assistant Director), and Kat Meister and Alex Montoya (Assistant Stage Managers).

About the Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at Juilliard
Brian Zeger, Artistic Director

One of America’s most prestigious programs for educating singers, Juilliard’s Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts offers young artists programs tailored to their talents and needs. From bachelor and master of music degrees to an advanced Artist Diploma in Opera Studies program, Juilliard provides frequent performance opportunities featuring singers in its own recital halls, on Lincoln Center’s stages, and around New York City. Juilliard Opera has presented numerous premieres of new operas as well as works from the standard repertoire.

Juilliard graduates may be heard in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world; diverse alumni artists include well-known performers such as Leontyne Price, Renée Fleming, Risë Stevens, Tatiana Troyanos, Simon Estes, and Shirley Verrett. Recent alumni include Isabel Leonard, Susanna Phillips, Paul Appleby, Erin Morley, Sasha Cooke, and Julia Bullock.

Recognized as one of today’s leading collaborative pianists, Brian Zeger has performed with many of the world’s greatest singers in an extensive concert career that has taken him to the premiere concert halls throughout the United States and abroad. Recent recordings include Preludios—an album of Spanish songs with Isabel Leonard, a recording of Strauss and Wagner lieder with Adrianne Pieczonka, Dear Theo: 3 Song Cycles by Ben Moore (Delos) with Paul Appleby, Susanna Phillips, and Brett Polegato, and All Who Wander, a recital disc with mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton.

Program Listing:
The Mother of Us All
Music by Virgil Thomson
Libretto by Gertrude Stein

Saturday, February 8, 2020
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
All performances begin at 7pm.
The Charles Engelhard Court, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tickets start at $140 and may be purchased online or by calling (888) 611-8076.

Daniela Candillari, Conductor
Louisa Proske, Director
Felicia Moore, Soprano, as Susan B. Anthony
Singers from Juilliard’s Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts
Musicians from the New York Philharmonic

Cast:
Anne: Erin Wagner
Gertrude S.: Libby Sokolowski
Virgil T.: Gregory Feldmann
Daniel Webster: William Socolof
Jo the Loiterer: Chance Jonas-O’Toole
Chris the Citizen: Kyle Miller
Indiana Elliot: Carlyle Quinn
Angel More: Jaylyn Simmons
Henrietta M.: Yvette Keong
John Adams: Ian Matthew Castro
Thaddeus Stevens: Santiago Pizarro
Constance Fletcher: Deborah Love
Jenny Reefer/Anna Hope: Alma Neuhaus
Lillian Russell: Lydia Grace Graham
Ulysses S. Grant: James Rootring
Herman Atlan: Ryan Hurley
Donald Gallup: Aaron Keeney
Andrew Johnson: Richard Pittsinger
Indiana Elliot’s brother: Jared Werlein

Design and Creative Team:
Barbara Samuels, Lighting Designer
Beth Goldenberg, Costume Designer
Joseph Fernandez Jr., Production Stage Manager
Kit Fitzgerald, Video Designer
Mark Grey, Sound Designer and Engineer
Sara Brown, Scenic/Prop Designer
Zoe Scofield, Choreographer
Lisenka Heijboer, Assistant Director
Kat Meister and Alex Montoya, Assistant Stage Managers