Mermaid's Aria

aria for mezzo-soprano or dramatic soprano Libretto by Royce Vavrek, based on and further inspired by Mermaid in the Jar by Sheila Heti. This aria occurs in the first portion of a triptych of short chamber operas (Mermaid in the Jar, Prairie Dogs, and Fine and Dandy) that take place entirely within an eleven-year-old Girl's bedroom. Over the course of a few days, a mermaid, a family of stuffed prairie dogs, and singing groups of chicken pox and shingles force her to confront what it means to care for others and be cared for herself. DURATION: 5:00 WORLD PREMIERE: Oberlin Conservatory, Winter 2020.