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        Commissioned by Opera Ventures Productions, Scottish Opera, NorrlandsOperan AB, Edinburgh International Festival and San Francisco Opera; The work is partially financed by the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, ‘RJ Konst och kultur’ and created with inspiration from Susanne Lundin's ‘Biomedicine at the borders' and Mats G. Hansson's ‘Mind the Risk’.

        Commissioner exclusivity applies

        Based on an original story by Karen Russell
        Inspired by Franz Kafka’s story “A Country Doctor”
        Adapted for the operatic stage by Missy Mazzoli, Tom Morris, and Royce Vavrek

        Unavailable for performance.

        • 2(II:pic).2.2(II:bcl).2(II:cbn)/4.2.2+btbn.1/3perc/hp/str
        • Chorus
        • 3S, Mz, 2Bar
        • 1 hr 40 min
        • Karen Russell (story) and Royce Vavrek (libretto)
        • English
          • 9th August 2026, 13–29 Nicolson Street Edinburgh EH8 9FT
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        Programme Note

        Cast
           THERESA HART, a doctor, dedicated and compassionate - Lyric Mezzo-soprano
           NOY, a teenager, angry and energetic - Light Lyric Soprano
           LUCKY MACK, a devil, smooth and charming - Baritone
           IVONA KOWALSKI, an old lady, embattled and in pain - Dramatic Soprano
           MEG, a farm dog, gleefully disgusting and optimistic - Soprano
           SAM, a farm dog, gleefully disgusting and optimistic - Baritone

        Chorus (12-16)
           including a leader who might play the mayor and solo townspeople, a mix of ages
           including 6 who look like teenagers (SATB)

        The Galloping Cure resets Kafka’s short story A Country Doctor in the present-day opioid crisis, filtered through the kaleidoscopic imagination of writer Karen Russell. A charming man comes to a small town, peddling a magical cure for pain in the form of a carousel ride. Doctor Teresa Hart initially endorses the cure after seeing the transformational effect on her town, realizing only too late that there are no easy solutions to complex problems. The Galloping Cure is a lurid tale of greed, sacrifice and resilience set amidst one of the most pressing crises of our time.