Missy Mazzoli - The Listeners (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

Information

Composer: Missy Mazzoli

• The Listeners

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Enrique Mazzola, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: PENTATONE

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Lyric Opera of Chicago, led by General Director John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, presents the world premiere recording of The Listeners, a compelling new opera by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, based on a story by Jordan Tannahill. The narrative centers on high school math teacher Claire Devon, portrayed with profound intensity by soprano Nicole Heaston, as she navigates a community united by a disturbing, inexplicable "hum." Driven by Mazzoli's rich orchestral and electronic score, the opera examines isolation, connection, and the dangers of collective illusion, delivering a haunting reflection on human vulnerability and shared belief.

Acclaimed American composer and pianist Missy Mazzoli (born 1980) studied at the Yale School of Music, Boston University, and the Royal Conservatory of the Hague under Louis Andriessen. She gained prominent recognition by founding the genre-blending ensemble Victoire and through her celebrated operatic collaborations with librettist Royce Vavrek, including Song from the Uproar and Breaking the Waves, which won the Music Critics Association Award for Best New Opera. A former composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mazzoli has created an extensive catalog of vocal and instrumental works performed worldwide, cementing her status as a leading contemporary classical voice.

Founded in 1954, Lyric Opera of Chicago is an internationally renowned company celebrated for its artistic excellence and world-class productions of both traditional and contemporary operatic repertoire. Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum, who brought over two decades of arts administration experience when he assumed the role in 2024, and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, the company continues its tradition of high-caliber performances. Mazzola, an acclaimed specialist in bel canto, early Verdi, and French repertoire, became Lyric's third music director in 2021, leading the company with a distinguished roster of global conductors, singers, and designers.