Grounded
Music by Jeanine Tesori · libretto by Q27063195 · premiered 2023
Grounded is an English-language opera in two acts with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by George Brant. The libretto is adapted from Brant's play of the same name. The opera features a pilot, Jess, and shows her struggle to adapt to drone warfare. The opera premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2023 to mixed reviews. Emily D'Angelo was praised for her role as the lead character, and Tesori's score was generally well received. The way in which the opera dealt with the theme of drone warfare was generally criticized by reviewers, who suggested it did not have a clear anti-war theme. A second production with a shorter runtime followed in 2024 at the Metropolitan Opera and met mixed-to-negative critical reception. Critics were unanimous in praising D'Angelo, but found the array of minor characters distracted from the drama. There were mixed opinions on the score, with some finding it still dragged despite cuts.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Grounded (opera)", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Jeanine Tesori, known earlier in her career as Jeanine Levenson, (born November 10, 1961) is an American composer and musical arranger best known for her work in the theater. She is the most prolific and honored female theatrical composer in history, with six Broadway musicals, six Tony Award nominations, and five Grammy Award nominations for Best Musical Theater Album. She won the 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play for Nicholas Hytner's production of Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center, the 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music for Caroline, or Change, the 2015 Tony Award for Best Original Score for Fun Home (shared with Lisa Kron), making them the first female writing…
Text from the Wikipedia article "Jeanine Tesori", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Other Operas by Jeanine Tesori
- Blue (2019)