"The Sisters" - A New Chamber Opera About Female Poets Through Time

"The Sisters" - A New Chamber Opera About Female Poets Through Time

Liberty City Arts presents the workshop premiere of “The Sisters,” a new chamber opera by Patricia Wallinga that imagines a dreamlike conversation between four pioneering women poets across time. The performance will take place on Friday, January 31st, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Latvian Society. Admission is by suggested donation of $20 per person.

Set in an early twentieth-century study, the opera follows poet Amy Lowell as she conjures visions of her literary forebears: Sappho, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Emily Dickinson. Through a series of intimate conversations and musical exchanges, these revolutionary women explore their shared experiences as female writers and their unique approaches to art and expression.

The piece weaves together texts from all four poets, creating a tapestry of voices that spans centuries. “These poets form a chain we follow through the opera, each looking back towards the others,” says composer Patricia Wallinga. “Browning read Sappho, Dickinson adored Browning’s work, and Lowell looked to all of them for inspiration. In this opera, they finally get to speak back to each other.”

With this project, Liberty City Arts aims to highlight the often-overlooked lineage of women’s artistic creation and the importance of creative sisterhood. “At times, it feels unbearably lonely to face the male-dominated world of composition,” Wallinga notes. “I draw strength from my female predecessors, just as Amy Lowell did. This opera is about finding your artistic family across time.”

The opera features an all-female cast and creative team, bringing together local Philadelphia artists in a celebration of feminine creativity past and present. The intimate workshop setting will allow audiences to experience this new work in its developmental stage and participate in its evolution ahead of the world premiere of the piece on June 13, 2025.

Venue Information:

Street parking available

Please note: Theatre access requires climbing stairs

Bar service available; drinks permitted during performance

Liberty City Arts is a community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization enriching Philadelphia’s vibrant arts landscape. With deep roots in classical music and opera, we connect passionate artists across disciplines through transformative experiences that impact our city’s cultural fabric. We are committed to supporting artists at all career stages, providing them with space to experiment, flourish, and showcase their expertise.

For more information, please follow @libertycityarts on Instagram or contact info@libertycityarts.org