Cincinnati Opera premiered "Lalovavi" (pronounced lah-low-VAH-vee), the first of three commissions from its Black Opera Project. This new opera, set 400 years in the future, is an Afrofuturist adventure inspired by comic book heroes, and draws comparisons to "Black Panther meets The Wizard of Oz." It aims to expand the types of stories told in grand opera, particularly those celebrating Black joy, creativity, and community, rather than solely focusing on trauma.
"Lalovavi" features music by Kevin Day and a libretto by Tifara Brown, who incorporated Tut, a coded language historically used within African American communities, into the opera. The title itself means "love" in Tut, making it the first opera to use this language. The story follows Persephone, the daughter of a tyrannical ruler in a sealed biodome called Atlas (formerly Atlanta), who escapes to uncover her true heritage and embrace her destiny as a liberator. The narrative emphasizes themes of resisting tyranny, reclaiming identity, and discovering hope.
The opera stars Brittany Olivia Logan as Persephone, with Adrienne Danrich as Dinah, Zoie Reams as Zipporah, Talise Trevigne as Niamara, and Morris Robinson as the villainous Titan. The production, directed by Kimille Howard and conducted by Kevin Miller with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, has been praised for its contemporary score, visual spectacle, emotional sincerity, and humor. It is seen as a significant step in making grand opera more accessible and relevant to a broader audience, demonstrating the possibilities for 21st-century opera.
