Briar Patch and Companionship

Virginia Arts Festival

These exciting new one-act operas were created through the Festival’s John Duffy Institute for New Opera, which gives composers and librettists opportunities to create new works, mentored by opera professionals. The slyly joyful Bre’r Rabbit, from composer Nkeiru Okoye and librettist Carmen Moore, reboots the beloved folk tale while paying tribute to the African tradition of storytelling. The wry and witty Companionship, by composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, sings the story of an aspiring baker who finally reaches the end of her obsessive quest to bake the perfect baguette when the 207,345^th one suddenly comes to life. Discover world premieres by gifted creators!