Opera and song
THE RIP VAN WINKLES
Music by Ben Morris.
One-act youth opera with chorus (60 min)
City teen Fabi and her parents relocate to a secluded town, which is suspiciously short on cell reception.
Commissioned and premiered by The Glimmerglass Festival, summer 2023.
"a witty, hour-long modern take on the Washington Irving story...the piece deftly showcased the young performers."
-Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal
COLORADO SKY
Music by Ben Morris.
One-act puppet opera for three singers (35 min)
Sky, a young wolf cub, struggles to make friends after relocating to his ancestral home of Colorado. What price will he pay for being his true self?
Commissioned and premiered by Art Song Colorado/Sohap Ensemble, summer 2023. Recording available here.
“I was completely captivated by Laura Fuentes' clever and heartfelt libretto and by Ben Morris's wonderfully inventive score”
-Tom Cipullo, composer
"A superbly eloquent and fascinating listen...lush and emotive appeal"
-Take Effect Reviews, May 2024
IN THE HOUSE OF SERENITY
Music by Beth Ratay.
Opera short for four singers (10 min)
Three mothers and their yoga instructor explore the power of community in this opera short.
Commissioned and premiered by Boston Opera Collaborative, spring 2023.
HANSEL & GRETEL
Music by Engelbert Humperdinck (arr. Nicholas Hersh)
One-act opera for seven singers (45 min)
Updated for contemporary audiences, siblings Hansel and Gretel experience the perils of living in an urban environment with extreme wealth inequality, finding hope along the way.
Commissioned and premiered by Peabody Opera Theatre, spring 2022.
School touring production and mainstage performance by Annapolis Opera/Peabody Opera Theatre, winter 2024.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER: A GUIDE TO MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Music by Sean Pflueger.
Song cycle for high or low voice (17 minutes)
This 5-part song cycle considers the burden of expectations placed upon women through a comic lens.
Premiered by soprano Rachel Sitomer as part of the Mixtape Recital Series (Annapolis, MD), spring 2022.
THE FALL OF MAN AND OTHER TALES
Music by Ben Morris.
Immersive opera for five singers (60 min)
This multi-media opera in nine parts takes the listener on an immersive journey through different time periods in human history, from prehistory to the far future, exploring themes of isolation and our relationship with our environment.
Premiered at University of Colorado at Boulder, spring 2022.
LAS AUTÉNTICAS
Music by Ben Morris.
One-act opera for three singers (20 min)
Jenny and Luz run a taco stand that has been named as a finalist for a social media influencer’s "Most Authentic Taco" title. But who determines authenticity? How far should we lean into others’ expectations? Whose tacos will emerge victorious?
Commissioned and premiered by Washington National Opera American Opera Initiative, spring 2021.
BRIDES AND MOTHERS
Music by Sean Pflueger.
One-act opera for four singers (25 min)
In a wedding showroom, two brides try on the dresses they’ve chosen for their weddings, revealing priorities that clash with their respective mothers’ values.
Premiered by Victorian Lyric Opera Company (Silver Spring, MD), fall 2019.
“The conflicts are legitimate, the character archetypes dead on, and the resolution satisfying…[Fuentes] crafts lyrics that are familiar, universal, inevitable”
-DC Metro Theatre Arts
THE PIER POINT LOBSTER RACE
Music by Sean Pflueger.
One-act opera with chorus (55 min)
The town of Pier Point is hosting its hotly anticipated lobster race. But the Pier has been double-booked, and a real estate magnate has her eye on developing the town’s idyllic waterfront. Can one lobster save the day?
Commissioned and premiered by College Light Opera Company (Cape Cod, MA), summer 2018.
"hilarious", "deliciously zany", "brilliantly funny"
-The Cape Cod Times
DO NOT DISTURB
Music by Sean Pflueger.
Full-length opera for ten singers (90 min)
When a junior attorney calls out sick to propose to his girlfriend, he is surprised to find his boss at the same resort. Compromising situations, mistaken identities, and a phone-addicted hotel employee lead to mayhem and hilarity of operatic proportions.
Premiered by Victorian Lyric Opera Company (Washington, DC), summer 2016.
"a modern Gilbert & Sullivan"
-DC Theatre Scene
©2020 by Laura Fuentes