Atlanta Opera to Stage Third Annual 96-Hour Opera Festival in June 2024

As well as hosting a competition for composers and librettists from under-represented communities, the festival will also premiere the winning operas from the last two editions

Originally conceived as a composition competition, the Atlanta Opera's 96-Hour Opera Festival will this year pair composers and librettists to write ten-minute operas and is specifically targeted at emerging creative talents from historically under-represented communities.

This year, the festival begins with the world premiere of the winning opera from 2022. Titled Forsyth County is Flooding (with the Joy of Lake Lanier), the work is by composer Marcus Norris and librettist Adamma Ebo. Then, the 2023 winning opera, Steele Roots by Selda Sahin and Dave Ragland, will be workshopped.

In 2024, the winners of the competition will receive a $10,000 Antinori Foundation Grand Prize and an Atlanta Opera commission for a new chamber opera to be produced and performed in an upcoming season. All other participants are guaranteed a $1,000 honorarium.

"The 96-Hour Opera competition has blossomed into a full-blown festival this season," said general and artistic director Tomer Zvulun. "In addition to hosting the prestigious competition to identify a winning talented team that will be commissioned for a brand-new opera, we are presenting the world premiere of Forsyth County is Flooding (winner of the 2022 competition) and the workshop of Steele Roots (winner of last year's competition)."

"This vital program is one of the highlights of our season and we are excited that it has grown into a festival in such a short time."