The Metropolitan Opera announced the world premiere of composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek's "Lincoln in the Bardo." The work will be presented from October 19 to November 14, including a Halloween performance, at the Met Opera in New York City.

"Lincoln in the Bardo" is the first main-stage opera by a woman to be commissioned and premiered solely by The Metropolitan Opera.

In 2018, Mazzoli made history when she became one of the first two women, along with composer Jeanine Tesori, to be commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera. Mazzoli is the fifth woman to ever have a work on the Met stage.

The newest piece is based on George Saunders's novel of the same name, and tells the story of the hours following the funeral of Abraham Lincoln's son Willie. Performed during the 250th anniversary of the United States, from the perspective of the graveyard’s residents, the opera invites reflection on the nation’s founding ideals.

Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the production will be directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, Resident Director of Lincoln Center Theater. The cast includes baritone Peter Mattei as Lincoln, soprano Christine Goerke as the Reverend, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo as Miss Elise Traynor, and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as Mrs. Baron.

GRAMMY®-nominated composer Missy Mazzoli is the Composer-in-Residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and from 2012-2015 served as the Composer-in-Residence with Opera Philadelphia. Upcoming commissions include works for Opera Philadelphia, the National Ballet of Canada, Chicago Lyric Opera and Norwegian National Opera.

Her music has been performed all over the world by the Kronos Quartet, eighth blackbird, pianist Emanuel Ax, Opera Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, the Detroit Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the BBC Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony, JACK Quartet, violinist Jennifer Koh, mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, and many others. Her works are published by G. Schirmer.