The Comet / Poppea
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 8:30pm
Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 8:30pm
Friday, June 20, 2025 at 3:00pm and 8:30pm
Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 3:00pm
David H. Koch Theater
Run AMOC* Festival, Summer for the City at Lincoln Center
Member Presale: May 8, 2025 – 12pm EDT
Tickets On Sale: May 15, 2025 – 12pm EDT
All tickets are Choose-What-You-Pay.
AMOC* opens our milestone Run AMOC* Festival with the New York premiere of The Comet / Poppea. This production fuses Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea (1642) with W.E.B. Du Bois’s short story The Comet (1920). Directed by Yuval Sharon, it explores power, survival, and race through the lens of cosmic disaster. George Lewis’s evocative new score links these narratives in a visionary operatic landscape. The stellar cast features AMOC* members Davóne Tines and Anthony Roth Costanzo. Tony Award-winner and Lincoln Center Artist-in-Residence (2022–24) Mimi Lien’s rotating set merges ancient Rome with comet-ravaged New York, creating an apocalyptic, immersive experience.
George Lewis and Claudio Monteverdi, composers
Based on the short story “The Comet” by W.E.B Du Bois
Douglas Kearney, Libretto
Yuval Sharon, Concept and Direction
Marc Lowenstein, Music Director
Mimi Lien, Set Design
John Torres, Lighting Design
Mark Grey, Sound Design
Oana Botez, Costume Design
Anthony Roth Costanzo*, Nero / Julia’s father
Davóne Tines*, Jim / Mercury
Kiera Duffy, Julia
Evan Hughes, Seneca
Amanda Lynn Bottoms, Ottone /Virtue
Whitney Morrison, Ottavia / “Friend” / Fortune
Joelle Lamarre, Love / Nellie
Keir GoGwilt*, Violin
Miranda Cuckson*, Viola
Coleman Itzkoff*, Cello
Emi Ferguson*, Flute
Doug Balliett*, double bass
Jonny Allen*, Percussion
Richard Valitutto, Piano
Elliot Figg, Harpsichord
Paul Holmes Morton, Theorbo
Adam Young, Viola da Gamba
An * asterisk next to an artist’s name denotes that they are one of 17 founding AMOC* company members.
The Comet / Poppea is realized through a landmark partnership among organizations across the United States, produced by Anthony Roth Costanzo and Cath Brittan, AMOC* (American Modern Opera Company), The Industry, Curtis Institute of Music, and Yale Schwarzman Center. The AMOC* and Lincoln Center presentation of The Comet / Poppea is produced in collaboration with THE OFFICE performing arts + film. The Comet is presented by arrangement with Associated Music Publishers, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.
The Comet / Poppea is made possible with generous support from Lead Sponsor, Ellen Michelson.
Additional generous support for The Comet / Poppea is provided by Founding Sponsors, Carol Stein, Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation, Jeff Goodby, and T. June & Simon K.C. Li Charitable Fund. The Comet, composed by George Lewis with Libretto by Douglas Kearney, is commissioned by AMOC*.
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