An all-American folk opera of raw emotional power, Susannah is set in rural, Depression-era Tennessee. Based on the Apocryphal story of Susannah and the Elders, it is a poignant story of a girl’s life and dreams shattered by bigotry, zealotry, and the abuse of power. The heartland-vibrant sets and costumes recall the muscular Americana of Thomas Hart Benton’s paintings. Floyd's 1955 opera – filled with music based on folk songs and dances and revival tunes – has become a standard of the operatic repertoire.

Libretto by Carlisle Floyd
Conducted by John DeMain