Paola Prestini
2025
Music by Paola Prestini, libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy, co-directed by Jerron Herman and Jay Scheib. Community Lead Gregg Mozgala. Lead produced by VisionIntoArt with Beth Morrison Projects.
Paola Prestini, jazz sensation Magos Herrera and German vocal sextet Sjaella come together at the Met Cloisters to recreate the dream of the first Mexican proto-femenist, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
2024
Commissioned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Chamber opera with libretto by Royce Vavrek and direction/design/concept by Thaddeus Strassberger, foley by Sxip Shirey.
2023
Grand opera inspired by Hemingway. Directed by Karmina Šilec, Libretto by Royce Vavrek, and choreographed by Sidra Bell. Design by Dorian Silec.
2022
Grand opera commissioned by Minnesota Opera. Libretto by Mark Campbell, direction by Eric Simonson, based on the novel by Kate Di Camillo.
2021
A Collaboration with cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, filmmaker Murat Eyuboglu, and dancer/choreographers Georgina Pazcoguin and Dai Matsuoka. Commissioned by the Broad Museum. Developed at MASS MoCA.
2020
Chamber work commissioned by The New York Philharmonic for Project 19. Words by Maria Popova, for soprano, violin, viola, cello, percussion, and fixed and live electronics.
Con Alma is an album and live digital experience of original works by composer Paola Prestini and vocalist and composer Magos Herrera, along with some classics from the Mexican and Jazz songbook.
2018
Co-commission by the Young People's Chorus of New York City and Yale Choral Artists, for mixed choir and children's choir. Text by Royce Vavrek and live painting by Kevork Mourad.
2016
Grand Opera commissioned by Friends of Madam Whitesnake. Libretto by Cerice Jacobs, direction by Michael Counts, video by S. Katy Tucker, produced by Beth Morrison Projects.
Commissioned by Bay Chamber Concerts. Cantata with libretto by Royce Vavrek, narration by astrophysicist Mario Livio, sound by ARUP, and VR by Eliza McNitt. Arias for soprano and piano exist.
Commissioned by The Met Museum and Houston Da Camera. Choral Eco-Documentary. Words by conservationist William de Boys, directed by Murat Eyuboglu. Roomful of Teeth, Jeffrey Zeigler and Glenn Kotche.
2015
Commissioned by the Walker Art Center and the Krannert Center. Choral Opera for singing actor, children's chorus and string quartet. Text by Rinde Eckert, direction by Julian Crouch.
Commissioned by BAM, the Young People's Chorus of NYC, and VisionIntoArt. A choral installation with text by Niloufar Talebi with visuals by Ali Hossaini, directed by Michael McQuilken.
2009
Commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Folk Opera and song cycle with film. Concept and dramaturgy by Paola Prestini, libretto by Donna Di Novelli, and film by Ali Hossaini. Improvisations by Helga Davis.
2007
A Concept by Paola Prestini, Erika Harrsch and Jeffrey Zeigler, commissioned by VisionIntoArt for the Whitney Live series. Exploring body parts and their history through surreal imagery.