UNCOVERED

a new one-act chamber opera (2020)

Music by LORI LAITMAN
Libretto by LEAH LAX
Dramaturgy by BETH GREENBERG

Uncovered is the story of Leah, a young lesbian who is drawn to the spiritual promises of the ultra-orthodox Hasidim, a Jewish sect. She defies her family, and hiding her true self, enters an arranged marriage. The couple raises seven children in lockstep with the Hasidic community. But when exhausted Leah becomes pregnant again, she feels driven to abort her baby, certain that otherwise she won't survive. Afterwards, changed, she finds love with a woman. This timely opera that confronts fundamentalism and a woman's right to choose is based on Leah Lax's memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home.

The work is scored for 8 singers and chorus, accompanied by clarinet, violin, cello and piano. It has an approximate running time of 90 minutes.

The opera was commissioned by Utah State University in Logan, UT, City Lyric Opera of NYC, and The New York Opera Society. The premiere took place March 31, 2022 at The Caine Lyric Theater in Logan, UT with The USU Opera Theatre, in a production directed by Beth Greenberg and conducted by Dallas Heaton. The NYC premiere will occur between November 16-19, 2022 with City Lyric Opera at the Here Arts Center.

To view the orchestral score, or to see The Mikvah scene filmed by City Lyric Opera in August 2020 during Covid, or for more information, please contact lori@artsongs.com

The opera was a finalist for the 2018 Dominic J. Pellicciotti Opera Composition Prize at SUNY Potsdam.