Lyric Opera of Orange County

Lyric Opera of Orange County reprises their breathtaking performance of Jake Heggie's "Two Remain," the operatic memoirs of two Holocaust survivors, for the California New Music Festival.

Lyric Opera of Orange County is proud to present the regional premiere of Jake Heggie's "Two Remain." These two true and compelling accounts of life after Auschwitz are brought to life, fully staged and expertly performed by internationally renowned professionals at the Yost Theatre in Santa Ana. This production is conducted by Kristin Roach and stage-directed by Scott Skiba, featuring performers Michael O'Halloran, Phil Meyer, and Diana Farrell.

Jake Heggie is best known for his operas "Dead Man Walking," "Moby-Dick," "It's A Wonderful Life," and "Three Decembers." His 10th full-length opera, "Intelligence," created with librettists Gene Scheer and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, receives its premiere in the 2023/24 season at the Houston Grand Opera.

"Two Remain" delves into the hidden Jewish identity of Krystyna Zywulska, a political prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, who secretly composed lyrics to inspire fellow prisoners even as she carried out the harrowing job of cataloging the personal effects of thousands of women and children before they were murdered in the ovens next door.

Act 2 illuminates Gad Beck's story, which highlights the Nazi persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust. Beck's first true love, the poet Manfred Lewin, was 19 when he and his entire family were murdered in Auschwitz. It is estimated that more than 100,000 men and women were imprisoned for homosexuality, and the German law prohibiting homosexuality remained in effect until 1969.

Lyric Opera of Orange County's mission is to engage with a modern and diverse audience by offering meaningful musical experiences that honor the operatic repertoire, feature artistic excellence, and present timely showcases of a traditional art form. They aim to impact their community by bringing world-class artistry, ideas, and programming to Orange County, while weaving traditional and innovative offerings into the rich cultural tapestry of the region. The organization champions local artists and creates an innovative creative workplace by collaborating with some of the most exciting names in the opera world. Named the 2022 Emerging Arts Organization of the Year by Arts OC, and with their Artistic Director, Diana Farrell, hailed as an "OC Visionary" by the LA Times, this young nonprofit continues its remarkable growth in Southern California.