World Premiere! January 19-21, 2024

A Chamber Opera in Two Acts About the Radical Life of Helen Keller

Music by Carla Lucero

Libretto by Carla Lucero & Marianna Mott Newirth

Commissioned by Opera Birmingham

World Premiere January 19 - 21, 2024

90 minutes running time

1 Actor

8 Singers

10 Instruments

Many know the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.
Few know that DeafBlind Helen fiercely advocated for Women’s Suffrage, the anti-war effort, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Movement. She was also co-founder of the ACLU.

touch depicts the complicated, life-long relationship between Helen and Anne. Their star-crossed romances, and individual desire for and fear of independence, test the limits of their enduring connection.

The music of touch resides in two sonic worlds: Helen’s and the world around her. Helen’s music revolves around four pitches: 

D-E-A-F, and Anne’s is the world around her.

Forces

Singers/Actors 

    Helen Keller: DeafBlind or LowVision Actor, Non-Singing
(Note: Helen’s thoughts and dialogue are voiced from a modular choir)
    Anne Sullivan:                   Soprano
    Helen’s Voice/Choir:        Soprano

 Kate/Choir:                         Mezzo
Polly/Choir:                        Mezzo
John/Choir:                        Tenor
Peter/Choir:                       Tenor
James/Choir:                      Tenor
              Arthur/Choir:                     Bass-Baritone

Chamber Orchestra

Bassoon

French Horn

Percussion

Harp

Piano

String Quintet

Contact info:

Carla Lucero carla@carlalucero.com 

Keith Wolf-Hughes keith@operabirmingham.org 

Marianna Mott Newirth opera.abecedarian@gmail.com