New Works Forum 2025
The 2025 New Works Forum brought together producers, creative artists, publishers, and other stakeholders working to develop, support, and promote new work on January 15 and 16, 2025. Streaming access was available for those who couldn't attend the forum in person.
Forum attendees attended sessions, a networking reception, and a featured performance of Eat the Document at the PROTOTYPE Festival. Attendees were also invited to the New Works Showcase, an OPERA America Onstage event the evening of Thursday, January 16.
Sessions
Welcome Session & Artist Roundtable and Q&A: Behind the Curtain: Understanding the Opera Creation Process
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This session offers a deep dive into the multifaceted process of creating an opera, from initial concept to final performance. Attendees will gain insight into the collaborative efforts among composers, librettists, directors, designers, performers, and producers as they work together to bring an opera to life. We will explore each stage of the creation process, including the development of the score, casting, staging, and rehearsal dynamics. Through discussion, we also will examine the challenges and rewards of creating new works, balancing artistic vision with practical constraints, and ensuring a seamless production.
Producer Roundtable: Breaking Boundaries
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
This session will explore how new works are embracing diverse perspectives and moving beyond stereotypes by telling specific, nuanced stories that reflect a broader range of experiences. We will discuss how creators blend opera with other art forms such as dance, visual arts, and digital media, to push the boundaries of traditional opera.
Producer Roundtable: Digital Perspectives in New Works
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The conversation will examine the evolving role of technology in shaping contemporary opera, including the impact of multimedia, digital effects, and virtual reality on both production and performance. Additionally, we will explore how streaming platforms, online performances, and digital media are transforming the way new opera is produced and consumed and assess whether these innovations are expanding the reach and relevance of the art form in today's digital landscape.
Workshop: Crafting the Perfect Pitch
2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
In a competitive industry, the ability to craft a compelling pitch is essential for gaining support for new opera projects. This session will guide attendees through the key elements of creating an effective presentation, from understanding the core message to tailoring it for specific audiences, such as funders, producers, and collaborators. We will explore best practices for presenting new works, highlighting the importance of clarity, passion, and vision in conveying the unique aspects of an opera. Whether you are a composer, librettist, or producer, this session will equip you with the tools to promote your opera/project.
Artist Roundtable: Redefining Success in American Opera
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Speakers will explore the evolving definition of success in the context of contemporary American opera. As the genre continues to adapt to the changing tastes of audiences, technology, and cultural discourse, the criteria for success are becoming more complex. Is success measured by box office revenue, critical acclaim, and/or artistic innovation? Artists, administrators, and producers will discuss how diverse factors such as audience engagement, cultural relevance, inclusivity, and accessibility are reshaping the notion of success. They will also address the role of opera companies in fostering new voices, advancing social narratives, and attracting younger and more diverse audiences, all while maintaining artistic integrity.
Producer Roundtable: Clarifying Community Roles: Elevating Civic Practice in New Works
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This session will explore how companies can demonstrate their genuine commitment to civic engagement by evaluating whether their education and community programs are authentic commitments or merely performative. Attendees will be encouraged to look beyond surface-level initiatives and assess how budgets and scheduling reflect an organization’s core values. The session also will delve into how companies are integrating community engagement into the New Works process, ensuring that these efforts are not seen as ancillary but as vital components that enrich and strengthen both the artistic process, and the communities involved. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on aligning organizational priorities with a meaningful community impact.
New Works Pitch Session
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Attendees will have a chance to promote their works to producers and publishers. Come learn about unfamiliar works, works in progress, and the sparks of new ideas.
BUS Opera
Carry My Own Suitcase
Doubt
For Whom the Bell Tolls
House of Legendary
Little Ones
The Nine Jewelled Deer
Roses are Blue
Spacewalk
Truman & Nancy
Tamandua
OPERA America serves as an essential convener for administrators, artists, and trustees to access the power of collective experience, gather insight, and share successful practices. The New Works Forum is part of a cycle of continuous learning that includes webinars on key industry topics, network forums, regional meetings, and other topical convenings. Learn more and see what's next at Conferences & Webinars.
Looking for more opera in your life? Check out the National Opera Calendar to find out what's on stage near you.
The New Works Forum is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Theodore H. Barth Foundation.
Programming at the National Opera Center is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.