Breaking the Waves at Opera Philadelphia, 2016

photo by Steven Pisano

LA Opera will stream Opera Philadelphia’s production of Breaking the Waves

Presented digitally through the LA Opera On Now initiative, this compelling adaptation of Lars Von Trierʼs 1996 cinematic masterpiece reaches audiences through an incredibly emotional filmed performance After a near-fatal accident leaves Bessʼs new husband, Jan, paralyzed, he implores her to take lovers (quite the ask). Torn between her husbandʼs wishes and the traditional values of her small community and her church, she determinedly follows her faith to a tragic end.

Winner of the 2017 award for “Best New Opera” by the Music Critics Association of North America, groundbreaking composer Missy Mazzoli’s first large-scale opera is already recognized as one of the most powerful music-theater pieces of our time.

Available to stream March 19 through April 12 2021.