Countertenor Embodies Ghostly Girl in Wild Opera

The Metropolitan Opera has commissioned an operatic adaptation of George Saunders's 2017 novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo." This work, inspired by the death of Abraham Lincoln's son, is a ghost story set in a graveyard where souls grapple with their mortality.

Composer Missy Mazzoli created the opera, which is set to premiere at Lincoln Center on October 19th. Author George Saunders expressed excitement, feeling the stage adaptation fully realizes the book's intentions, particularly in portraying the character of Elise Traynor.

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, cast as Elise, draws parallels between the character's fluid, shifting forms and the ageless, gender-ambiguous nature of his voice. The performance incorporates extreme visual elements, including puppets representing intrusive thoughts and disembodied hands, to convey the characters' inner turmoil.

Recently, a preview unfolded in a New York Times office, featuring Costanzo singing an aria surrounded by puppets and an ethereal costume. This event offered a glimpse into the opera's surreal and emotionally charged narrative, designed to embrace a sense of "overflow" and heightened reality.