WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED | Pittsburgh Opera

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A family portrait

When Mona finds a mysterious suitcase filled with stolen masterpieces, she must grapple with a choice to save these priceless paintings or save her son—the thief. Burning the paintings would destroy the evidence of her son’s crime, but one of the paintings—Lucian Freud’s “Woman With Eyes Closed”—looks just like her own mother, a painter who died when Mona was still young. The uncanny resemblance unlocks long-buried memories that fuel the fires of three different possible endings.

This world premiere opera from award-winning composer Jennifer Higdon (Cold Mountain) is inspired by a real-life art heist, and confronts the question “what is the true value of a work of art?” This is an opera that needs to be seen at least twice; each night of the production has the possibility of a completely new ending!

Labriola Winery is the official wine sponsor for Woman with Eyes Closed.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The commissioning of Jennifer Higdon for Woman with Eyes Closed received funding from OPERA America's Opera Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Commissioned by Opera Philadelphia. Funded in part by The Amphion Foundation, Inc.

These performances are sponsored in part by a generous gift from Diana Reid and Marc Chazaud in memory of Diana Jannetta – music lover, art collector, and dear friend.

(photo credit: David Bachman)

PERFORMANCE DATES/TIMES/LOCATION

Where: The Bitz Opera Factory (Pittsburgh Opera's headquarters), 2425 Liberty Avenue, in Pittsburgh's Strip District

When:

Saturday, April 26, 2025 * 8:00 PM- ~9:15 PM (approx. end time) Ending One
Opening Night Reception partially sponsored by Happenstance Café
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 * 7:00 PM- ~8:15 PM (approx. end time) --> RESCHEDULED Wednesday, April 30, 2025 * 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Ending Two
Friday, May 2, 2025 * 7:30 PM- ~8:45 PM (approx. end time) Ending Three
Saturday, May 3, 2025 * 2:00 PM- ~3:15 PM (approx. end time) Ending One (Preview Audience Choice)
Sunday, May 4, 2025 * 4:00 PM- ~5:15 PM (approx. end time) Ending Three (Cast Choice)

CAST AND ARTISTIC TEAM

Michael Chioldi photo credit Peter Konerko

Mona: Meredith Arwady+

Curator: Audrey Welsh*

Thomas: Fran Daniel Laucerica*

Momma: Lauryn Davis*

Inspector: Matthew Soibelman*

Conductor: Antony Walker (April 26, 29, May 2, 3, 2025)
Conductor: Glenn Lewis (May 4, 2025)
Stage Director: Kristine McIntyre
Set Designer: Luke Cantarella
Costume Designer: Nancy Julian
Lighting Designer: Todd Nonn
Stage Manager: Tess Naval
Director of Musical Studies: Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist: James Lesniak
Resident Artist Pianist / Supertitle Caller: Maeve Berry*
Assistant Stage Director: Dana Kinney*

_{+ Pittsburgh Opera debut
* Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
** Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni}

SYNOPSIS

Seven priceless paintings have been stolen from the walls of a museum in the dead of the night. The police, the media, and the museum’s curator are desperate to find the culprit. In hopes of avoiding police detection, the thief (Thomas) has carelessly stuffed the stolen masterworks in a suitcase and abandoned them with his unsuspecting his Mother, Mona.

In her son’s absence, the reclusive Mona investigates the contents of the suitcase discovering both the severity of her son’s crime as well as the innate beauty of each masterpiece. One painting in particular (Lucian Freud’s WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED) awakens something deep inside Mona, shaking her to the very core. The painting bears astriking resemblance to Mona’s Mother, an amateur artist who died when Mona was child. The circumstances surrounding her Mother’s death have reverberated throughout Mona’s life.

The police investigation continues to escalate, bringing an Inspector to Mona’s front door. Though Mona lies to the Inspector, successfully sending him on his way, she also knows that her flimsy deception is merely a temporary fix. The police already have evidence connecting Thomas to the crime. It’s a matter of time before he is apprehended. Mona must act quickly.

Night falls. Mona sleeps. As she dreams, the Freud painting comes to life. Inside a liminal state, Mona and her Mother briefly reunite. Inside this memory, the two women examine the past. They navigate the pain and compromise of a life half-lived, a life starved for color, expression, and connection. Together, they unearth the past trauma that continues to define Mona’s future.

With the dawn comes many burning questions: Can Mona save her son, save herself and save these priceless paintings while simultaneously preserving the memory of her Mother? WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED is a new opera about creation, destruction and the art of letting go.

- courtesy of the creators

DETAILS & RESOURCES

We want you to have the best experience possible at our performances!

Here are some details and resources to help. Also visit our Opera FAQs or our Accessibility page.

Run time: 75 min
Content Advisory: This performance includes profanity, simulated violence, and a minor smoke effect.
Understand Every Word: Understand Every Word: Woman with Eyes Closed is sung in English, with English supertitles are projected above the stage
Braille Programs available
Large-Print Programs available
Download the Study Guide
View the Digital Program

CHILD POLICY:

Children must be ages 6 and up. Suggestions and tips for bringing children to the opera may be found at pittsburghopera.org/FAQ.
All children must have a ticket. There is a 50% discount for kids and teens ages 6-18.

PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS

Review: onStage Pittsburgh - Review: Pittsburgh Opera Premieres ‘Woman With Eyes Closed’
Review: Classical Voice North America - Intimate Opera Canvas Painted With A Mother’s Crisis Of Resolve, Pain
Review: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 'Woman With Eyes Closed' alternates a frantic pace with moments of artistic bliss
Review: Pittsburgh Quarterly - Pittsburgh Opera and Chatham Baroque Blur Performative Boundaries
Broadway World - Photo Flash - WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED At Pittsburgh Opera
Tribune Review - Pittsburgh Opera's 'Woman with Eyes Closed' is an enigmatic world premiere with 3 possible endings
Entertainment Central Pittsburgh -Theater Guide April ’25
TABLE Magazine - Woman With Eyes Closed Explores Real Life Art Heist
onStage Pittsburgh - What’s On Stage Pittsburgh for the week of April 14th to the end of May, 2025
OperaWire - Pittsburgh Opera to World Premiere ‘Woman with Eyes Closed’
onStage Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Opera’s newest world premiere, ‘Woman With Eyes Closed,’ has three different endings [interview with Audrey Welsh]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - A brand new opera about a $100 million, real-life art heist sells out in Pittsburgh
WESA-FM - Huge art heist provides inspiration for Pittsburgh Opera world premiere in Strip District venue
KDKA-TV CBS Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Today Live, April 23rd, Weekend Guide
NEXTpittsburgh - Things to do this weekend
Pittsburgh Magazine - See an opera with a surprise ending in the Strip
NPR.org - Jennifer Higdon won't apologize for writing accessible music

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jennifer Higdon’s $130-million heist opera finally premieres after its Philly debut fell through. Twice. [Paywall, but syndicated to MSN.]
WQED-FM Voice of the Arts podcast interviews
WQED-FM - Composer Jennifer Higdon live on-air interview with Jim Cunningham
OperaWire - Artist of the Week: Jennifer Higdon
Pittsburgh News Channel - Discover the New Opera 'Woman With Eyes Closed' Inspired by a Real Art Heist in Pittsburgh

VIDEO EXCERPTS

Enjoy these videos below, and view our full set of video excerpts on our YouTube Playlist

Mona (Meredith Arwady) is shocked to discover that the woman in the painting 'Woman with Eyes Closed' looks just like her dead mother.

Thomas (Fran Daniel Laucerica) tells his mother Mona (Meredith Arwady) that the mysterious contents of his suitcase offer him his one chance at happiness.

The Curator (Audrey Welsh) talks about the paintings stolen from her museum while, at home, Mona (Meredith Arwady) realizes her son stole the paintings and left them in her house.

The Inspector (Matthew Soibelman) interrogates Mona (Meredith Arwady) about her son's whereabouts.