Join us for the On-Demand Viewing of the Mannes Opera 2025/2026 Season Opener -- the fully staged chamber version of Kaija Saariaho’s extraordinary oratorio, La Passion de Simone, with a libretto by Amin Maalouf.

The presentation will begin promptly at 4:00 PM ET on October 20. The production will be available to stream for 24 hours following the start time.

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One of the 21st century’s most influential female composers, Saariaho created a work of profound contemporary relevance, engaging with themes of war, human suffering, and the philosophical contemplation of "good."

Her oratorio examines the life and work of radical French philosopher Simone Weil in 15 stations; an iteration of the Christian mediation on the 14 Stations of the Cross. Through the compelling figure of Weil, this work examines the impossibility—and the necessity—of contemplating the vast scope of human suffering with unflinching eyes. This piece was presented in a fully staged production on October 10 and 11, led by conductor Micah Gleason in partnership with Mannes Opera's Emma Griffin as director.

The fully staged chamber version of Kaija Saariaho’s extraordinary oratorio marked an important continuation of Mannes Opera’s close artistic relationship with the composer and her family. Saariaho spent a great deal of time at Mannes and the College of Performing Arts as a resident composer in 2018, when she taught lessons and gave master classes. La Passion de Simone was first presented in 2016 and was directed by her son, Aleksi Barrière, in connection with L’Amour de loin. This production was created by Barrière’s opera company, La Chambre aux échos, and was later presented as a fully staged work at festivals and opera houses internationally. The staging featured original video art created by Barrière himself.

This oratorio was presented by Mannes musicians in collaboration with La Chambre aux échos and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).

Ahead of the performance, the panel discussion Empathy and Action: A Subjective Discussion of Simone Weil’s Legacy, organized by Emma Griffin, brought together faculty from across The New School to explore Weil’s enduring influence.

Conductor - Micah Gleason

Director - Emma Griffin

Music Preparation - Cris Frisco

MANNES OPERA

Under the leadership of Managing Artistic Director Emma Griffin (since 2018), Mannes Opera has become a vital program in the training and study of opera for the next generation of performers and makers. In both workshops and full productions, Griffin, her team, and their students have collaborated with and produced work by composers such as Mark Adamo, Ricky Ian Gordon, David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Rachel Peters, Huang Ruo, Kamala Sankram, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Kate Soper and Greg Spears. Establishing the school as a new work incubator, Mannes Opera has partnered with industry leaders in the support of contemporary opera, bringing companies such as Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Beth Morrison Projects, Opera Saratoga and others into collaborative projects with students and guest artists. This close engagement and collaboration with industry leaders is crucial to preparing students to thrive as impactful and empowered professionals.

Balancing the focus on contemporary work is a robust program of classical works in innovative productions — operas by composers such as Mozart, Puccini, Gluck, and Handel. By engaging with the rich tradition of classical repertoire, and by drawing on the best opera and theater makers that NYC has to offer, Mannes Opera trains students to be professional artists with a curiosity for the new, an understanding of the past, and a devotion to the multi-dimensional craft of opera.

Students at Mannes flourish in a one-of-a-kind creative community, with opportunities to collaborate across performance, design, technology, and entrepreneurship. In this vibrant and supportive environment, emerging artists are uniquely prepared to thrive as versatile, impactful and empowered creative professionals.