August 20, 2026 — The composer hailed by The New Yorker as a “once-in-a-generation magician of the orchestra,” Missy Mazzoli (CRF 2019) is having a moment: Her new opera The Galloping Cure—called one of the greatest operas of the century—had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival this month. Now, a new production of George Saunders’s Booker Prize–winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo composed by Missy—will premiere at the Met Opera on October 19th.
About The Galloping Cure
Missy, who lost two cousins to the opioid crisis, wrote the music for The Galloping Cure inspired loosely by Franz Kafka’s short story A Country Doctor with a narrative conceived by novelist Karen Russell. Set in a small industrial town suffering from chronic pain and malaise, a mysterious showman arrives with a carousel that promises instant relief from all suffering—acting as a stark allegory for the greed and devastation of the opioid epidemic.
About Lincoln in the Bardo
The supernatural story takes place in the “bardo,” a transitional plane between the end of this life and the beginning of the next, populated by those who resist all the powers of light and darkness and refuse to accept their fates. The action revolves around 11-year-old Willie, recently deceased son of Abraham Lincoln, whose grief-stricken visits to Willie’s tomb prevent his son’s spirit from moving on.
Preview Performances in NYC
Missy will preview Lincoln in the Bardo at Green-Wood Cemetery on September 25th. Civitella will be paying respects to our founder, Ursula Corning, who is buried at Green-Wood before taking our seats. An additional preview will take place at Trinity Church & Cemetery on October 15th ahead of its run at the Met Opera, October 19th to November 14th.
Civitella is thrilled to celebrate these accomplishments and new works by Missy!