Long Beach Opera Ungala presents the “2020 Songbook”
Sunday Nov. 15th, 5:00 PM PST
More info here

Premiere of As We Breathe, an installed song featuring baritone David Castillo, commissioned for the “2020 Songbook”

The 2020 Songbook is a live virtual ticketed event featuring the premieres of newly commissioned works created by Jessie Cox, Clifton Joey Guidry III, Carla Kihlstedt, Olivia Shortt, Theresa Wong, Katharine Young, Bethany Younge, Anahita Abbasi, Leila Adu Sonja Mutic, Marcus Norris, Shahab Paranj, Aida Shirazi, Bahar Royaee, Niolufar Shiri, George Gianopouplos, Phillip Goulub, and Benjamin Beckman. The songs reflect on some of the experiences and events from the past year. The commissioned composers will be mentored by Anthony Davis, Annie Gosfield, David Lang, George Lewis, and Du Yun, who among them have won three Pulitzer Prizes, a MacArthur Genius Grant and a Guggenheim Fellowship and have premiered some of the most interesting and dynamic contemporary operas presented in the 21st century. The resulting “2020 Songbook” will serve as an artistic time capsule of this very unusual time, as well as contributing to the creative economy by encouraging the creation of new works. The event will include world premiere performances of the new pieces, behind the scenes moments of creation, and interviews with the many artists and performers involved in the project. The evening will be hosted live by beloved star, Anthony Roth Costanzo, and will support Long Beach Opera's 2021 Season of Solidarity.