 SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 - (Portland, Oregon) - On Saturday, October 5th, New Wave Opera heads to Mendelssohns bar for SCREAM QUEENS: An Evening of Voices in Treble! Enjoy a pun-derful cocktail or simple wine alongside delectable bites as New Wave Opera treble vocalists accompany your evening with tuneful opera arias, duets, and art songs from Mendelssohns' iconic high-rise stage! With selections ranging from the gorgeously serene to the seriously silly, there will be plenty for long-time opera fans and first-time listeners to enjoy.
Featured selections include works by New Wave Opera composers Kimberly Osberg & Lisa Neher, plus selections by Melissa Dunphy & Nikita Gill, Jodi Goble & Basil Considine, Monica Chew & Sandra Flores-Strand, Jake Heggie, Portland's own Dianne Davies, and more! "As we turn our attention towards some of our spookier selections, we are delighted to be featuring some fresh repertoire for those who attended our summer performances," says New Wave Opera resident soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson. "We are especially excited to be unveiling a bit more from our upcoming production, Night of the Living Opera." The evening will feature performances by sopranos Lindsey Rae Johnson and Carolyn Quick, mezzo Lisa Neher, and pianist Hannah Early. Music will performed between 8 to 10pm, so audiences are encouraged to stop by anytime to catch the performance. No reservations required. A $10 cover charge applies at the door in support of the performing artists. Visit newwaveopera.org for more information.
0 Comments
 Earlier this week, New Wave Opera had the joy of performing at Raven's Manor Haunted Bar for MUSIC IN THE MANOR. With a bustling house from open to close, we were thrilled to see so many familiar faces from the opera community (including friends from Lark Opera, the recent OrpheusPDX production of The Rose Elf, and singers involved in our upcoming production Night of the Living Opera), as well as meet those who had never heard opera before! Today we share some of our favorite moments from throughout the night!
By far one of the biggest applauses of the night was in response to soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson's rendition of Rita's Aria from A Wedding, by William Bolcom and librettists Robert Altman & Arnold Weinstein.
We were also excited to unveil excerpts from our upcoming show at The Manor, NIGHT OF THE LIVING OPERA, which will see fully-costumed and fully-staged performances of four contemporary operas. For Music in the Manor, we shared excerpts from THUMP (Kimberly's setting of "The Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe), she conjures (a wicked one-woman opera by Lisa Neher & Bea Goodwin), and Serial Killers and the City (Del'Shawn Taylor & Joanie Brittingham). Given the enthusiastic response from our listeners on Monday, we can tell these shows will be a big hit in October!  Pianist Stephen Lewis, mezzo Lisa Neher, soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, and mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support us, and to our hosts at Raven's Manor for providing delectable food, incredible & whimsical drinks, and a truly welcoming atmosphere throughout the evening. We can't wait to be back at The Manor in October!
UP NEXT
 On August 19th, New Wave Opera lands at Raven's Manor Haunted Bar to perform a selection of operatic works and art songs by living composers. In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing a bit more about these pieces and their writers - including a world premiere! Today we dive deeper into three works that will be new to Portlanders - and all of which feature stories around food - the hilarious opera Serial Killers and the City, the chuckle-inducing COVID Bake-Off, and an equally-punderful opera trio, If You Cheese (a world premiere)! COVID Bake-Off (2022) - Monica Chew & Sandra Flores-Strand
Why We Love This Work: Sandra's libretto skillfully captures the relationships and personalities of all the characters in such succinct ways - even from this short duet we perform, listeners already have a strong sense of the stakes, the characters, and the relationship they share. We love how Monica's setting of these words slips in and out of different styles seamlessly as the characters become more introspective. Her use of tempo changes, moments of a cappella, and reeling wind-ups in the piano really capture the emotional journey from anxiety and frustration to hope and triumphant joy. It is impossible to hear the end of this duet without having a smile on your face! Read more about composer Monica Chew here. Read more about librettist Sandra Flores-Strand here. Serial Killers and the City - Del'Shawn Taylor & Joanie Brittingham
Why We Love This Work: Joanie's libretto is absolutely stuffed with hilarious puns, witty quips, and killer one-liners. We love how Del'Shawn uses the voices to overlap like a natural conversation between gal pals, while still leaving plenty of room for the text to be heard (and reacted to!). The seamless transitions from duets, trios, and arias keep listeners rapt with attention from start to finish, and his use of grooves propels scenes forward in such a natural way. Lisa has performed this work in the past (most recently with the amazing New York-based company, Experiments in Opera!), and has loved how much laughter the opera brings to audiences. Read more about composer Del'Shawn Taylor here . Read more about librettist Joanie Brittingham here. Learn more about the amazing folks at Experiments in Opera (NYC) here. If You Cheese (world premiere) - Kimberly R. Osberg
Why We Love This Work: This short opera scene is absolutely stacked with fantastic cheese-based puns, playful vocal lines, and super-dramatic moments from both vocalists and piano. Kimberly's writing really captures the anxiety of preparing something important last-minute, and - as mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts said recently - you will never hear a more beautiful piece about cheese! Read more about composer Kimberly R. Osberg here.  From a July rehearsal of "If You Cheese", featuring (L to R) soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, pianist Stephen Lewis, and mezzo Lisa Neher. Hear these works and a whole lot more at |
 | WHEN: Monday, August 19th | 6-11pm WHERE: Raven's Manor Haunted Bar | 235 SW 1st Ave | Portland, OR | 97204 COST: $5 cover charge at the door ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Ages 21+ only. No RSVP required, but reservations available via Raven's Manor. We will perform off & on throughout the evening, so come anytime! Food & Drink available for purchase from the bar. Contact Raven's Manor for full menu & accommodation information. BE THE FIRST IN THE KNOW - sign up for our mailing list today to get the latest updates on our events, recordings, and more! |
On August 19th, New Wave Opera lands at Raven's Manor Haunted Bar to perform a selection of operatic works and art songs by living composers. In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing a bit more about these pieces and their writers - including a world premiere!
Today's post dives deeper into works created by Portland-based composers Lisa Neher, Dianne Davies, and Kimberly R. Osberg.
Today's post dives deeper into works created by Portland-based composers Lisa Neher, Dianne Davies, and Kimberly R. Osberg.
she conjures (2023) - Lisa Neher & Bea Goodwin
Claire McCahan (right) performs she conjures, accompanied by Brendon Shapiro on piano for the world premiere performance in 2023.
Summary: she conjures places listeners in 1666 in North Berwick, Scotland. Grissall’s mother has been burned for witchcraft and a mysterious spell of endless snow has fallen upon the land. With the help of her mother’s feathered familiar, Caraid, Grissall seeks answers and justice, with the help of a little magic of her own.
What to Expect: With a dramatic and whimsical libretto by Bea Goodwin, this feminist tale of witches, crows, curses, revenge, and redemption is infused with Scottish folk music elements - and a bit of magic of its own. The rendition at Raven's Manor this August will include the first two movements from the work, performed by mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, and serves as a sneak peak for a fully-staged production this October!
Why We Love This Work: she conjures is a masterclass in how to tell a compelling, complete story with a single character. Bea Goodwin's libretto cleverly balancing letting listeners know the context and intentions of its main character, while still providing an air of mystery and suspense. We also love how Lisa expands this enviornment with the piano, transporting audience members to another realm and immersing listeners completely into Grissall's world.
Read more about composer Lisa Neher here. Read more about librettist Bea Goodwin here.
What to Expect: With a dramatic and whimsical libretto by Bea Goodwin, this feminist tale of witches, crows, curses, revenge, and redemption is infused with Scottish folk music elements - and a bit of magic of its own. The rendition at Raven's Manor this August will include the first two movements from the work, performed by mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, and serves as a sneak peak for a fully-staged production this October!
Why We Love This Work: she conjures is a masterclass in how to tell a compelling, complete story with a single character. Bea Goodwin's libretto cleverly balancing letting listeners know the context and intentions of its main character, while still providing an air of mystery and suspense. We also love how Lisa expands this enviornment with the piano, transporting audience members to another realm and immersing listeners completely into Grissall's world.
Read more about composer Lisa Neher here. Read more about librettist Bea Goodwin here.
Sleep Saga (2024) - Dianne Davies
 Lisa Neher performs "Sleep Saga" at Summer Splash | Summary: Dianne Davies' takes listeners through a cycle of sleepless nights at different points in a woman's life. Beginning from the fear of monsters as a child, the perils of friendship dynamics as a teenager, the nervous energy of a wedding, and finally as a tired mom with a sleepless child of her own. What to Expect: Performed as a staged work during our Summer Splash show this past July, mezzo Lisa Neher reprises her role as the solo character. Complete with costumes and staging, we can't wait to bring this fun and charming work to Raven's Manor for our August show. Why We Love This Work: In only six minutes, Dianne Davies brings listeners through an entire life's worth of sleepless nights with beautifully-detailed piano writing and wonderfully expressive vocal lines. This collection of vignettes shares experiences listeners of every age can relate to, and we love the specificity of her original text. |
Read more about composer & writer Dianne Davies here.
THUMP (2014) - Kimberly R. Osberg
| Summary: Based on the "Tell-Tale Heart" short story by Edgar Allen Poe, this 30-minute operetta separates Poe's dynamic narrator into three distinct voices - each using text directly from the short story to shine a light on a different interpretation of the tale. Who is the narrator? What is their relationship to "the old man"? And what happened on that fateful night? What to Expect: In this August performance, mezzo Lisa Neher will perform a solo aria from THUMP, exploring a softer, more fearful reading of the source material - providing a sneak peak of our upcoming full production of the work, which will feature Neher, soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, and tenor Brandon Michael in our October show. |  Cover art for "THUMP" |
Why We Love This Work: With its quasi-Rashoman structure, THUMP allows for new interpretations of and highlights questions raised by the original text - the narrator's gender, relationship to "the old man," and true motivations for their actions are never revealed. With three explorations set side-by-side, along with some truly lush and demanding piano writing (to be performed by Stephen Lewis in August, and pianist Sequoia this October), this well-known work is made fresh once more.
Read more about composer Kimberly R. Osberg here.
Hear these works and a whole lot more at
Music in the Manor !
 | WHEN: Monday, August 19th | 6-11pm** WHERE: Raven's Manor Haunted Bar | 235 SW 1st Ave | Portland, OR | 97204 COST: $5 cover charge at the door ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Ages 21+ only. No RSVP required, but reservations available via Raven's Manor. We will perform off & on throughout the evening, so come anytime! Food & Drink available for purchase from the bar. Contact Raven's Manor for full menu & accommodation information. BE THE FIRST IN THE KNOW - sign up for our mailing list today to get the latest updates on our events, recordings, and more! |
AUGUST 5, 2024 - PORTLAND, OR - What are a pair of bored cats to do when their owner is distracted by newfound love? Can a raven familiar help a grieving daughter avenge her mother's death? And what's that strange, thumping sound? Could it be...a heartbeat?
On Monday, August 19th, New Wave Opera will perform a selection of opera scenes, arias, and art songs by living composers and librettists at the iconic Raven's Manor Haunted Bar in downtown Portland.
On Monday, August 19th, New Wave Opera will perform a selection of opera scenes, arias, and art songs by living composers and librettists at the iconic Raven's Manor Haunted Bar in downtown Portland.
 Interior of Raven's Manor Haunted Bar main level | Attendees can enjoy a signature Raven's Manor cocktail while hearing an eclectic variety of dramatic works for voice and piano. The performance will feature selections by New Wave Opera composers Kimberly R. Osberg & Lisa Neher, plus selections by Melissa Dunphy & Nikita Gill, Jodi Goble & Basil Considine, Monica Chew & Sandra Flores-Strand, William Bolcom, Jake Heggie, and Portland's own Dianne Davies. New Wave Opera will also preview select works from October’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING OPERA show, including music from THUMP - a setting of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Kimberly R. Osberg - and she conjures, an operatic work by Lisa Neher with words by Bea Goodwin. |
“We couldn’t have imagined a setting with a more distinct and uniquely-detailed atmosphere,” says NWO President Lisa Neher. “We are thrilled to be showcasing the talents of our locally-based musicians in one of Portland’s most iconic venues.”
In addition to the Night of the Living Opera preview, New Wave Opera will also premiere Kimberly R. Osberg's new opera trio, If You Cheese.
| "While we are definitely mixing in a few darker selections for this performance, there will still be a lot of light-hearted and humorous pieces programmed," says composer-in-residence, Osberg. "I'm so thrilled to have If You Cheese receive its world premiere in such a playful restaurant - that's as goudas it gets!" |  Composer Kimberly R. Osberg |
Featured performers include soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, mezzos Lisa Neher and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, and pianist Stephen Lewis. New Wave Opera artists will be repeating their performances throughout the evening from 5 until 11pm–so stop by for a delicious dinner or grab some late drinks with friends.
A $5 cover charge applies at the door in support of the artists, and tips for the performers will also be accepted. Food & drink are available for purchase from the bar. No RSVP required, but reservations are accepted through Raven's Manor.
A $5 cover charge applies at the door in support of the artists, and tips for the performers will also be accepted. Food & drink are available for purchase from the bar. No RSVP required, but reservations are accepted through Raven's Manor.
EVENT DETAILS FOR MUSIC IN THE MANOR
| | WHEN: Monday, August 19th | 6-11pm** WHERE: Raven's Manor Haunted Bar | 235 SW 1st Ave | Portland, OR | 97204 COST: $5 cover charge at the door ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Ages 21+ only. No RSVP required, but reservations available via Raven's Manor. We will perform off & on throughout the evening, so come anytime! Food & Drink available for purchase from the bar. Contact Raven's Manor for full menu & accommodation information. **this time reflects a recent update |
This past weekend, Saturday July 27th, New Wave Opera gave their debut performance for a packed house at the Periwinkle Song Studios in Portland, Oregon.
Today we share our gratitude and some of our favorite moments from the day, along with photos from the event!
Today we share our gratitude and some of our favorite moments from the day, along with photos from the event!
 Periwinkle Song Studio Patio | Periwinkle Song Studio has been running outdoor concerts in the summertime for years, headed by owner and long-time voice teacher, Susan McBerry. Susan and her husband (and amazingly fluffy doggo!) graciously provided their space to NWO and helped to encourage attendees to donate in support of our upcoming programming. We couldn't have asked for better weather either! With both sunshine and breeze, the stage was set for our listeners to enjoy a gorgeous afternoon. |
| We were also grateful to receive a generous donation of food and drinks from our hosts, as well as a GIGANTIC donation of beer from beloved local brewery, Gigantic Brewing Company. The cast arrived early to warm-up and make sure everything was perfect for our guests. NWO President Lisa Neher even provided a banner for photos - which our cast took advantage of immediately to stage some goofy pics! |  Just a few of the beers donated by Gigantic Brewing Company. We are so grateful for their support! |
L to R: Lisa Neher, Allison Knotts, Stephen Lewis, Lindsey Rae Johnson
| It didn't take long for the patio to fill up - and overfill! NWO staff, Periwinkle Song Studio volunteers, and even a few audience members helped listeners find additional seats, including bringing a few of their own from their vehicles! We were so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that our community came out in such numbers to support our inaugural performance. With everyone seated, drinks & food served, and shadows beginning to grow over the sunny patio, it was time for the performance to begin! |  Audience members enjoying the shade & song at Summer Splash |
Performance after performance, the audience members chuckled and clapped and cheered. The enthusiastic response to these pieces by living composers & librettists was truly heartwarming to witness, with audience members commenting on how relatable and relevant so many of the texts felt to them.
One audience favorite was Lindsey Rae Johnson and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts performance of "The Bored Cat Duet" from Meow & Forever (Jodi Goble, Basil Considine), with audiences cheering upon learning of our upcoming fully-staged production in Spring 2025.
 L to R: Lisa Neher, Lindsey Rae Johnson, Allison Kim-Yok Knotts | Our younger audience members perked up especially at Lisa Neher's Snapshots, which featured snippets of text from the Daily Kansan that included memorable lines such as "Crocodiles are ornery cuz they got all them teeth and no toothbrush!" and "To the nineteen squirrels who are sitting in a circle on my front lawn: What are you planning?!" This work featured all three vocalists from the performance - mezzos Lisa Neher and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts and soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson - as well as beautifully detailed playing from composer-pianist, Stephen Lewis. |
We could not have imagined a more beautiful day, enthusiastic crowd, or supportive atmosphere for the inaugural launch of New Wave Opera. Our deepest thanks to everyone who attended, donated, and plan on coming to a future event. We cannot thank you enough for your support and enthusiasm for our mission to bring opera music by living composers from all around the world - performed by voices living here in Portland - to listeners in our region and beyond.
Photo Gallery from Summer Splash!
Have your own pictures from the event? Tag us on Facebook and Instagram @NewWaveOpera!
This weekend, New Wave Opera will present our inaugural event: Summer Splash! This week, our artists shared what works they are most excited about and what listeners can expect to hear.
Today we hear from NWO composer-in-residence, Kimberly R. Osberg!
Today we hear from NWO composer-in-residence, Kimberly R. Osberg!
 NWO Composer-in-Residence, Kimberly R. Osberg | Photo by Mauricio Herrera | "While vocal music is definitely at the center of this program, I was also excited New Wave Opera decided to program my short piano solo Mango Salad for this summertime outdoor concert! The piece was originally written as part of a project, New Music Cookbook, in which I wrote solo works based on recipes submitted by composers, musicians, and food enthusiasts alike. The idea was to end up with a whole "cookbook" of recipes and pieces that could pair with the pieces, and the proceeds from the book being donated to local food banks. "While the project was halted due to illness, several works were completed - including this short piano solo, originally premiered by composer-pianist Monica Chew; her work, COVID Bake-Off (libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand) is also appearing on this program, so it's a really lovely connection!" |
Pianist Stephen Lewis will perform the short solo at the start of the program this weekend.
| "I am also SO thrilled we're presenting music by composer Gwyneth Walker on this program. I really didn't know much about her music, but listening in rehearsals this week I have fallen in love with her writing. It's energetic, lush, dramatic, hilarious, gorgeous - she writes such an eclectic array of music. She kept writing even as she lived on a dairy farm in Vermont (as a Wisconsinite, especially, I felt kinship with her there!), producing over 400 works - and counting! I really hope I get the chance to meet her some day and talk about her music, but in the meantime I'm just thrilled we're sharing it with our audiences this weekend." |  Composer Gwyneth Walker on her dairy farm in Vermont |
New Wave Opera is presenting three Gwyneth Walker pieces this weekend: lily has a rose (text by E.E. Cummings), The Sunrise Ruby (text by Rumi), and Still (text by composer).
 Cover Art for "If You Cheese" | "We also were planning to premiere another food-themed work for this performance - a new trio, IF YOU CHEESE. The trio follows a woman named Bonnie trying to put together a last-minute order of a cheese board with her two friends - though her friends start to offer a lot more puns than help. All three vocalists - Lisa Neher, Lindsey Rae Johnson, and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts - sound lovely on it, and Stephen really impressed me with how fast he was able to pick up the dramatic runs and jumpy clusters of the piece. However, it needed just a little more time to 'mature,' so I'm really looking forward to the premiere on our August show at Raven's Manor instead! It will brie even feta than I imagined!" |
New Wave Opera presents its inaugural concert TOMORROW! Read more about the event, or RSVP to secure your seats today at the links below:
This weekend, New Wave Opera will present our inaugural event: Summer Splash! This week, our performers shared what works they are most excited about and what listeners can expect to hear.
Today, we hear from NWO resident soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson!
Today, we hear from NWO resident soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson!
 NWO Resident Soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson - who also recently celebrated a birthday! | "One of the pieces I'm most looking forward to performing is Rita's Aria from William Bolcom's The Wedding [libretto by Robert Altman & Arnold Weinstein]. During the aria she is trying to communicate hilariously-detailed instructions regarding drinks - the energy is very high and rather chaotic. I attended bartending school when I was in Texas for my graduate degree, so it was really fun to encounter an opera aria with so much of the jargon from that part of my life. Musically, there are a lot of huge leaps and colorful moments - the stakes feel so high for something we might not consider terribly important; it is a great encapsulation of a truly 'dramatic soprano' moment, and I love performing it." |
The piano part for this work is also highly demanding, though you wouldn't know it to hear our pianist, Stephen Lewis tear through it!
| "We actually have two wedding-themed soprano arias. The other one we've programmed is from Jonathan Dove & Alasdair Middleton's The Enchanted Pig. The whole opera is so fantastical, and I love the waltzing, dance-like feel of the music - it really helps to convey a playful tone even as the character is saying some pretty awful things [...do I look like I mind if some nuns have gone blind? The whole bleeding convent can drop down dead..., or ...the doves...won't do. Shoot them all! They're too small,"]. After all, who doesn't want a perfect wedding??" |  Soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson at a recent rehearsal, with pianist Stephen Lewis. |
Lindsey will also be singing a duet by NWO Resident Mezzo & Composer, Lisa Neher on the program.
 Lisa Neher (L) and Lindsey Rae Johnson (R) during a performance of "I'm use to the way I move," from Lisa's opera "Sense of Self" | "Lisa's duet, I'm use to the way I move, has some really beautiful text by Kendra Preston Leonard. The story is about two strong women navigating a challenging situation. My character, Maya, is a triathlete that gets diagnosed with breast cancer and must decide between surgical options - my mother is a breast cancer survivor, so the topic is very personal to me. In this duo, the other character - her coach Naomi - offers some real encouragement and support during the aria. It's a really beautiful moment of connection between the two characters." |
You can hear Lindsey on these works - and a whole lot more - THIS SATURDAY at our inaugural concert, Summer Splash! Read more about the event, or RSVP to secure your seats today at the links below:
We are thrilled to announce a generous donation from Gigantic Brewing Company for our inaugural event, Summer Splash! Thanks to Gigantic's donation, we will be providing complimentary beers from this beloved local brewery on event day in addition to our other refreshments.
About Gigantic Brewing Company
| Gigantic Brewing Company is an independent, artisanal brewery. Co-founders and brewers Ben Love and Van Havig operate under one simple rule: “never give an inch.” Determined to create “exceptional beer, rather than a lot of beer,” the duo takes pride in Gigantic’s consistent quality and (ironically) small size. |  |
 | “When you drink Gigantic,” states their website, "know that we didn’t just put our names on the label – our effort, imagination, and dry wit are in every bottle.” Ben Love is the Gigantic Brewing Company Brewmaster. A native Oregonian, Ben’s passion for beer (legally) began with a pint at the Horse Brass and a stint at Belmont Station in 1999. Ben always wanted to own his own business, and put years of dreaming and scheming into action to start Gigantic. Van Havig is the Gigantic Brewing Company Master Brewer. As a brewer, Van continues to question convention in terms of beer style, brewing methods and brewer dogma, among other things. His favorite thing to say about brewing is “just because you had an idea, doesn’t make it a good one.” |
A GIGANTIC thanks for supporting New Wave Opera!
This weekend, New Wave Opera will present our inaugural event: Summer Splash! This week, our performers shared what works they are most excited about and what listeners can expect to hear.
 Lisa Neher | Photo by Antonia Rose Photography | NWO President Lisa Neher, also our resident mezzo and composer, was thrilled by two animal-inspired works on the program - including her own setting of Lewis Caroll's How doth the little crocodile? "This text, from Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is a parody of a moralistic poem “Against idleness and mischief,” by Isaac Watts - in which Watts uses a bee to demonstrate the rewards of hard work. Carroll’s poem borrows the same meter and rhyme scheme to tell a distinctly different tale of a crocodile luring fish into its mouth with beautiful shining scales and a deceptively welcoming smile! The colorful poetry and upbeat irony struck me as the perfect inspiration for a playful, mischievous song." Lisa will be performing the setting with resident soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson. |
| "The other work I'm really excited to share this weekend is the Bored Cat Duet from Meow and Forever. The opera is a one-act opera about new love, chosen family, and friendship of the human and feline varieties! When Bailey is swept up in a new romance, her best friend feels left out and her cats Chester and Nala feel downright neglected! This uplifting opera, with a libretto by Basil Considine and music by Jodi Goble (winner of the 2023 NATS Art Song Composition Competition!), is a feel-good story about female friendship, queer love, and the animals in our lives. |  Lisa Neher with the late Max | Photo by Zach Finch Photography |
"I am also ecstatic to share that New Wave Opera has received a RACC grant to support a full production in 2025. We couldn't be more excited!"
More information on our upcoming production of Meow & Forever will be available later this year - so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first in-the-know on this family-friendly production!
More information on our upcoming production of Meow & Forever will be available later this year - so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first in-the-know on this family-friendly production!
 Lisa and her husband recently adopted two new forever-felines, Trinity and Neo! | JOIN US FOR SUMMER SPLASH! Saturday, July 27, 2024 | 3:30 - 5pm PORTLAND, OR | Westmoreland Neighborhood Exact address provided upon RSVP FREE to attend | Donations gratefully accepted Suggested donation of $20 per adult, $5 per child Join New Wave Opera's at the Susan McBerry Periwinkle Studio for SUMMER SPLASH! This all-ages backyard concert features tuneful opera arias, duets, and art songs by living composers, some of whom live in your own backyard! Plus, hear the world premiere of Kimberly R. Osberg's downright punderful opera trio, If You Cheese! Snacks & drinks of the adult and child-friendly varieties both provided. |