Delta King’s Blues

Damien Geter, composer

Jarrod Lee, librettist

Commissioned by IN Series

Link to Tickets (Reading and Reception) here

Premiere Fall 2025

Illustration by David Plunkert

In its 2025-2026 season, IN Series will proudly present the World Premiere of a new “blues opera” called DELTA KING’S BLUES. This multi-year commissioning project is the brainchild of librettist Jarrod Lee, and will feature a score by Damien Geter, one of America’s most sought after opera composers today. This, the first full commission of an opera by IN Series, tells the (mostly) true story of legendary blues artist Robert Johnson, who is said to have sold his soul to the devil to learn the blues. This new truly American Faust, will have its first public musical reading on January 26th, 2025, with a cast of rising operatic stars, led by IN Series Head of Music Emily Baltzer, and with composer Damien Geter present. – IN Series

Featuring:

Robert Johnson (tenor): Curtis Bannister
The Devil (bass): Carl Dupont
Virginia (soprano): Melissa Wimbish
Willie (baritone): Marvin Wayne Allen
Son (tenor): Jonathan Pierce Rhodes
Music Director: Emily Baltzer