An Opera of Innocence in a Town Without Mercy

Curtis Opera Theatre opens its 2026–27 series with Susannah, Carlisle Floyd’s poignant tragedy that helped define American opera. Written at the height of 1950s McCarthyism, the opera draws inspiration from the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders, reimagining the tale in rural Tennessee. The work follows a young woman unjustly persecuted by her Evangelical community after a false accusation, unfolding into a raw and deeply human drama.

Praised for its distinctly American voice, Floyd’s score blends folk-inspired melodies and Protestant hymnody with sweeping operatic lyricism, creating a sound world rooted in the American South. One of the most frequently performed American operas, Susannah explores themes of religious hypocrisy, isolation, and the loss of innocence—resonating as powerfully today as at its 1955 premiere.