SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Savannah VOICE Festival (SVF) has announced the premiere of “The Elanors”, its new opera.
“The Eleanors” is set to debut at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the First Baptist Church, located at 223 Bull St in Savannah.
“The Eleanors” follows Maxie, Ramona and Lilian who hold down the home front during World War II with humor, heart, the support of good friends … and a nightly scoop of Leopolds ice cream. Foxtrot down memory lane into 1940s Savannah with composer-in-residence Jodi Goble’s swing and American Songbook-infused operatic score, set to words by Savannah VOICE Festival’s former composer-in-residence (and interim Artistic Director) Michael Ching.
The world premiere coincides with the 70th National Opera Association (NOA) National Conference and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) conference which takes place at Savannah’s DeSoto Hotel from January 5-8.
“I’m thrilled to have another original opera in our Milnes VOICE Programs, especially during the joined opera conference of NOA and NATS. It is an important new work about our American history and Savannah’s own Immigrant history through the Leopold family,” said Maria Zouves, Co-Founder and President of Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs. “Having both our new composer in residence Jodi Goble work with our past composer and collaborator, Michael Ching, who is now our artist in residence is a thrilling combination! I hope Savannah will welcome this new work by coming to the performances, and meeting all our prestigious visitors from the operatic world, as they have chosen our fair city as a place to meet.”