How Punk Rock, MTV Inspired Opera Composer Missy Mazzoli’s Met Debut

Music From Many Worlds

She recalled watching MTV for hours. Mazzoli said the videos by Guns N’ Roses and Sonic Youth opened up different worlds, and that helped make her interest in opera understandable to her in retrospect.

Opera And Difficult Questions

“Lincoln in the Bardo” is set during the Civil War, when America was deeply divided. Mazzoli said the setting felt relevant to the country today. To prepare, she visited cemeteries. Mazzoli described opera as a way to explore subjects that are hard to discuss, including life, death, love, betrayal and grief. She said music can express emotions that words alone cannot fully convey.

A Creative Partnership

Royce Vavrek has written lyrics for six of Mazzoli’s operas. He said their shared interest in storytelling and theater helps them work together, with him shaping the words and Mazzoli the music.

Their latest work, “The Galloping Cure,” premiered this summer and addresses the opioid epidemic. Mazzoli said two cousins died after overdoses; Vavrek’s father also died following addiction.

A Return To The Met

Mazzoli said women composers face different expectations from men. She recalled that male creators are often assessed for their potential, while women may be judged on whether they have already written an opera.

Monday’s premiere marked her Metropolitan Opera debut and a return to the venue. She first attended at age 18, sitting in the highest section’s last row because it was the only seat she could afford. Mazzoli said the experience changed her life.