Watch the world’s first opera with a transgender historic character

American composer and Grammy winner Tobias Picker and librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman have written the world’s first major opera for and about a person with a transgender background.  This opera is streamed by Slippedisc, courtesy of OperaVision.  Commissioned by Konzert und Theater St. Gallen, Lili Elbe, in the tradition of great works of the operatic repertoire, is the story of a love overcoming all obstacles. During her lifetime (1882–1931), Lili Elbe was an internationally known personality.  The opera is based on historical sources including Lili Elbe’s own writings, unlike the film The Danish Girl (2015) which is based on the novel of the same name. The opera’s title role is played by the celebrated heroic baritone Lucia Lucas – recently seen at Metropolitan Opera New York, Lyric Opera of Chicago and English National Opera – who also acted as dramatic advisor to the authors. Staged by Krystian Lada, the creative team includes conductor Modestas Pitrenas and choreographer Frank Fannar Pedersen. St. Gallen dance company has a central role in this world premiere.

The Plot: the painter Lili Elbe was the first person to have gender confirmation surgery in the 1930s. The homonymous opera is a glimpse into the life of Lili Elbe and her wife Gerda Wegener (also a famous painter) through Lili’s transition at a time when such surgery was still completely uncharted territory.

ACT I
Copenhagen, November 1925
At this time Lili Elbe presents as a man and lives under the name Einar Wegener. Lili is married to Gerda Wegener, both work as artists. The couple attends a play which tells a modern version of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Their friend Anna Larsen Bjørner stars as Orpheus. The next day Anna is supposed to model for Gerda but cancels last minute. Gerda asks Lili to step in, so she can finish the painting on time. Wearing a dress and imitating Annas pose, Lili finally feels like herself and asks Gerda to call her Lili from now on. A few days later Lili, for the first time, presents herself as a woman at Gerda’s art exhibition. Gerda and Anna consider this to be a joke. Lili explains to Gerda that she only wants to live as Lili from now on, a wish which unsettles Gerda. They decide to move to Paris. Lili hopes for more freedom to live her true self and Gerda hopes for more success with her art.

Subtitles in English and German

Available from 1900 CET / 1800 London/ 1300 NY