Susannah

  • Curtis Opera Theatre
  • Nov 19, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.

An Opera of Innocence in a Town Without Mercy

Curtis Opera Theatre opens its 2026–27 series with Susannah, Carlisle Floyd’s poignant tragedy that helped define American opera. Written at the height of 1950s McCarthyism, the opera draws inspiration from the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders, reimagining the tale in rural Tennessee. The work follows a young woman unjustly persecuted by her Evangelical community after a false accusation, unfolding into a raw and deeply human drama.

Praised for its distinctly American voice, Floyd’s score blends folk-inspired melodies and Protestant hymnody with sweeping operatic lyricism, creating a sound world rooted in the American South. One of the most frequently performed American operas, Susannah explores themes of religious hypocrisy, isolation, and the loss of innocence—resonating as powerfully today as at its 1955 premiere. Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow Mariana Corichi Gómez leads a stellar cast of singers in a new production directed by multidisciplinary artist Mikhaela Mahony.

Content advisory: This performance contains mature themes and may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Please note programs and artists are subject to change.

Program

FLOYD Susannah

Performed in English with English supertitles

Artists

  • Mikhaela Mahony Director

    Mikhaela Mahony is a Brooklyn-based director of theatre, opera, and film. As both an opera and theatre director, she has developed work with the Ensemble Studio Theatre and Youngblood, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bushwick Starr, Primary Stages, Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, Boston Lyric Opera, and more. Learn more.

  • Mariana Corichi Gómez Conducting Fellow

    Mariana is a conductor, vocalist, and composer from Mexico City. She grew up in both State College, Pennsylvania and Morelia, Michoacán, where her family currently resides.

    Mariana is a Conducting Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music studying with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Jim Ross and assisting various orchestras and Curtis Opera productions. Learn more.

  • Curtis Opera Theatre

    Through visionary productions, bold concepts, and compelling narratives, the artists of Curtis Opera Theatre prepare to become stars of the world stage. The combination of key elements of artistry—music, acting, singing, and design—allows these student-artists to create a lasting connection with audiences.

  • Curtis Symphony Orchestra

    Comprised of outstanding talent and unmatched enthusiasm for musical collaboration, Curtis Symphony Orchestra stands as a cornerstone of the Curtis Institute of Music experience and a vital component of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene. For 100 years, our exceptional students have sharpened their skills and broadened their musical horizons, as they prepare for professional careers with the world’s foremost orchestras and chamber ensembles.

Special Thanks

Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.

Curtis received funding from Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

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