Heartbeat Opera

05/31/2026

Today’s final performance marks the end of VANESSA’s blockbuster run in New York City. It has been a privilege to bring this historic production home to our community after an incredible debut last summer at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Congratulations to our entire cast, band, team, and staff on a record-breaking run and on the inspiring work of bringing this piece to life.

Heartbeat Opera presents
VANESSA
A brand-new 100-minute adaptation, sung in English
Composed by Samuel Barber
Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti
Adapted by Jacob Ashworth
Newly Arranged by Dan Schlosberg
Directed by R.B. Schlather
Music Directed by Jacob Ashworth

CAST
Vanessa // Inna Dukach
Erika // Kelsey Lauritano
Anatol // Freddie Ballentine
Baroness // Mary Phillips
Doctor // Joshua Jeremiah

BAND
Conductor // Jacob Ashworth
Violin // Sunny Sheu
Cello // Thapelo Masita
Clarinet/Saxophone // Louis Arques
Trumpet // Grace O’Connell
Trombone // Sam George
Harp // Deanna Cirielli
Piano // Eliot Goldmund

TEAM
Adapted by Jacob Ashworth
Newly Arranged by Dan Schlosberg
Director // R.B. Schlather
Music Director // Jacob Ashworth
Set Designer // Jiaying Zhang based on an original design by R.B. Schlather
Costume Designer // Terese Wadden
Lighting Designer // Yuki Nakase Link
Dramaturg // Peregrine Teng Heard
Production Stage Manager // Brenna Comeau
Intimacy/Movement/Fight Coordinator // Skye Bronfenbrenner
Producer // Shannon Sindelar
Production Manager // Brian Freeland
Technical Director // Joey Shaw
Associate Music Director/Orchestra Manager // Jake Eisner
Assistant Stage Manger // Rachel Rice
Wardrobe Supervisor // Linnea Soderberg
Copyist // Harry Collins
Supertitles // Nicholas Betson
Repetiteur // Husan Chun-Novak

VANESSA was developed by Heartbeat Opera at Williamstown Theatre Festival as part of W71 in 2025.

Photography by Russ Rowland (1) and Maria Baranova (2)

05/30/2026

“THE STUFF OF GENIUS” (Seen and Heard International)

Tonight and tomorrow are the final two chances to witness Heartbeat Opera’s VANESSA in New York City. Very limited tickets remain. Don’t miss it.

Photo by Russ Rowland

05/30/2026

“What Heartbeat Opera has achieved with VANESSA is not simply a successful reinterpretation but a revelation… Their new rendering of VANESSA may be their most astonishing achievement yet”

Only two performances remain.

Presented by Heartbeat Opera Composed by Samuel Barber, Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti Adapted and Musically Directed by Jacob Ashworth Newly Arranged by Dan Schlosberg, Directed by R. B. Schlather Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue, in Manhattan May 12, 2026 - May 31,

05/26/2026

VANESSA’s final week in New York City begins TONIGHT. If your desired performance is sold out, standby tickets may be available.

Secure remaining seats before they’re gone at heartbeatopera.org/vanessa VANESSA must end Sunday, May 31.

For SOLD OUT performances, a standby list will begin at the Box Office one hour before performance time. Names will be collected until five minutes before curtain, at which point remaining tickets will be sold for $50 each on a first-come, first-served basis.

Audience members must be present when their name is called in order to purchase a standby ticket. All standby tickets are subject to availability and may be seated anywhere in the theater.

Photography by Maria Baranova.

05/22/2026

"VANESSA, as performed by Heartbeart, accomplished for me something never before experienced in opera in English: I CLUNG ONTO EVERY WORD. I didn’t even need to look at the supertitles."

Don’t miss a single word. VANESSA must end May 31.
heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

Vanessa is spare and compelling in Heartbeat Opera's production.

05/21/2026

"THE REDEMPTION OF VANESSA... Samuel Barber’s 1958 opera was in disrepute for decades. A REMARKABLE new production is the latest evidence of its rightful resurgence." -The New Yorker

Performances must end May 31. heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

Samuel Barber’s 1958 opera was in disrepute for decades. A remarkable new production is the latest evidence of its rightful resurgence.

05/20/2026

“LANDING WITH HORRIFYING FORCE, this production suggests that VANESSA was never anything but current... It’s a shame this title doesn’t come around more often."

Performances of VANESSA continue through May 31 only. heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

New works, “The Post Office” and “Constance: A Confession,” and a revival of Barber’s “Vanessa” show companies attempting to capture these nebulous times.

05/15/2026

What a celebration.

After an exhilarating SOLD OUT opening night, we’re pleased to announce one more added performance of VANESSA due to unprecedented demand. All tickets are on sale now at heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

Photography by Russ Rowland

05/14/2026

Ahead of tonight’s SOLD OUT opening night performance, Kelsey Lauritano sings from Heartbeat Opera’s monumental New York City premiere of VANESSA.

The VANESSA band, conducted by Artistic Director Jacob Ashworth, includes Sunny Sheu, Thapelo Masita, Louis Arques, Grace O’Connell, Sam George, Deanna Cirielli, and Eliot Goldmund.

Performances continue only through May 31. Tickets are available at heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

05/12/2026

The moment she’s been waiting for has finally arrived. Heartbeat Opera’s VANESSA makes its wildly-anticipated New York City premiere TONIGHT.

We’re immensely proud to bring this landmark production home to our community in NYC. Get a first look inside with these brand-new photos.

Very limited tickets have been released for this week’s SOLD OUT shows. heartbeatopera.org/vanessa

Photography by Russ Rowland.