‘The Galloping Cure,’ Missy Mazzoli’s opera on opioids epidemic, premieres at Edinburgh Festival
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Missy Mazzoli’s desire to compose an opera about the opioids epidemic was sparked by the…
Missy Mazzoli's opera "The Galloping Cure," which delves into the opioid epidemic, made its debut at the Edinburgh International Festival. The story behind the opera's creation is deeply personal for Mazzoli, as it was inspired by the loss of two of her cousins who were both 25 when they died from opioid overdoses - one from an OxyContin overdose and the other from heroin addiction, which began after becoming addicted to OxyContin.
The opera opens with a captivating allegory of a carnival merry-go-round, used as a metaphor for the destructive power of the opioid epidemic. The central character, Lucky Man, portrayed by baritone Justin Austin, is a charismatic charlatan who offers the residents of the fictional town of Yourtown free rides on fiberglass horses to alleviate their chronic pain.
However, the "cure" is anything but free, and Lucky Man starts charging money for the rides, a practice he refers to as "dynamic pricing." As the town descends into despair, Lucky Man demands body parts as payment for more carousel horses, ultimately leading to the town's downfall.
Dr. Theresa Hart, played by mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, endorses Lucky Man's cure, but her support ultimately proves fatal for her daughter Noy, portrayed by soprano Gabrielle Turgeon. This poignant tale is the first of two premieres in a 71-day span for Mazzoli. She becomes the first woman composer to have a premiere at New York's Metropolitan Opera with "Lincoln in the Bardo" on October 19, a tight succession reminiscent of the rapid back-to-back debuts of Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and "La Traviata" in 1853.
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