On January 8 and 10, the Boston Symphony Orchestra presents Vanessa, the Pulitzer Prize–winning opera with music by Samuel Barber and a libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. These performances are presented in partnership with Boston Lyric Opera, and take place at the legendary Symphony Hall.
Under the baton of Andris Nelsons, Vanessa features an exceptional cast of international opera stars, led by Jennifer Holloway in the title role. She is joined by Samantha Hankey as her niece Erika, Anne Sofie von Otter as the Old Baroness, Ganson Salmon as Anatol, Patrick Carfizzi as the Old Doctor, and Wei Wu as Major Domo/Footman, with choral forces provided by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Lyric Opera Chorus.
Vanessa is a central work in the American operatic repertoire, first premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1958. Barber’s richly lyrical score and Menotti’s evocative libretto explore haunting themes of love, illusion, and the passage of time, set against the backdrop of a house “frozen in time,” where Vanessa awaits the return of her long-lost lover.
Presented as part of the BSO’s E Pluribus Unum: From Many, One series—an initiative exploring the history, ideals, and evolving voices of American music—these performances underscore Barber’s enduring emotional power and Vanessa’s singular place in the 20th-century American operatic canon.
Interested in more operas like Vanessa? Look to The Weight of Motherhood section of our recent web feature, Operas in Concert.
For more information, please contact your local Wise Music Promotion Team; Contact Us.
