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John Adams’ Girls of the Golden West

Fri / Jan 27, 2023 - 8:00PM

The true stories of the California Gold Rush come to life in John Adams’ recent opera.

No Longer Available

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About this Performance

John Adams’ powerful opera, Girls of the Golden West, is a rejection of the whitewashed romantic view of California in the early days of the Gold Rush. Director Peter Sellars drew from historical texts when he created the libretto, particularly from the memoirs of a woman who called herself Dame Shirley. As Sellars has said, “These true stories of the Forty-Niners are overwhelming in their heroism, passion, and cruelty, telling tales of racial conflicts, colorful and humorous exploits, political strife and struggles to build new life.” Responding to these incidents, Adams’ propulsive music captures all the conflicting emotions with his characteristic insight. “There should be no doubt that Girls of the Golden West is the most powerful opera of the moment.” – Los Angeles Times

This performance is generously supported by the Frank Gehry Fund for Creativity and the Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund.

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