Baroque Dreaming Into Contemporary Opera

This event is part of the series
Viva Voce

Panel Discussion
Baroque Dreaming into Contemporary Opera
Mysticism, Feminism, and the Power of Nature

Paola Prestini and Magos Herrera
Co-creators of Primero Sueño

in conversation with

Ronda Kasl (The Met Museum, Curator of Latin American Art)
Eugenio Refini (NYU, Italian Studies & MARC Director)

Introduced by
Georgina Dopico (NYU Provost and Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Languages & Literatures)

In ENGLISH

Join us for an exclusive panel delving into the creative journey behind Primero Sueño, the groundbreaking operatic adaptation of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s iconic poem. Featuring co-creators composer Paola Prestini and jazz icon Magos Herrera, this discussion offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Sor Juana’s profound exploration of mysticism, feminism, and the natural world was transformed into a mesmerizing operatic procession through the sacred spaces of The Met Cloisters. The panel will include select footage from the production, showcasing Herrera’s powerful portrayal of Sor Juana alongside the Leipzig-based vocal ensemble Sjaella and a team of world-class multi-instrumentalists, directed by visionary arts leader Louisa Proske.

This event is presented by MARC in collaboration with the Department of Italian Studies and Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò and Espacio de Culturas as part of the Viva Voce series.

Organized by Prof. Eugenio Refini, Viva Voce is a series of events – conversations, talks, book discussions – that address the intersections of voice, performance and the mechanisms of reception. Featuring specialists from different fields, these interdisciplinary events aim to bridge across research, teaching, and public outreach.