Rene Orth's (Composition '16) World Premiere Opera a Hit

Curtis congratulates alumna Rene Orth (Composition ’16), whose latest opera, 10 Days in a Madhouse, recently opened Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23 to rave reviews. Co-commissioned by Tapestry Opera with a libretto by Hannah Moscovitch, this searing psychological drama, based on historical events, follows trailblazing reporter Nellie Bly through her internment at Blackwell’s Asylum, exposing, as Bly did, notions of madness and societal biases against women. Among the opera’s accolades, Canadian-American soprano and Curtis alumna Lauren Pearl (Voice ’16) received praise as the “strong, charismatic” head Nurse/Matron at the asylum (Washington Post). 10 Days in a Madhouse had its world premiere on September 21 and runs through September 30 at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. 

What the critics are saying:

• “Harrowing, breathless” —New York Times
• “An opera of unexpected immediacy” —Washington Post
• “Haunting” —Philadelphia Inquirer
• “A vital new opera” —Opera Now 
• “Engaging score … beautifully sung” —Washington Classical Review

Learn more about 10 Days in a Madhouse with Opera Philadelphia HERE.

Visit Rene Orth’s official website HERE. Visit Lauren Pearl’s website HERE.

Watch Rene Orth’s acclaimed 2016 opera, Empty the House, a world premiere Curtis Opera Theatre production in partnership with Opera Philadelphia and the Kimmel Cultural Campus.