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Biography
David T. Little is “one of the most imaginative young composers” on the scene (The New Yorker), with “a knack for overturning musical conventions” (The New York Times). His operas Dog Days, JFK, and Vinkensport (librettos by Royce Vavrek), and his GRAMMY®-nominated Soldier Songs have been widely acclaimed, “prov[ing] beyond any doubt that opera has both a relevant present and a bright future” (The New York Times).
Other recent works include hold my tongue (Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ), the earthen lack (London Sinfonietta / BGSU), Ghostlight—ritual for six players (Eighth Blackbird / The Kennedy Center), AGENCY (Kronos Quartet), and dress in magic amulets, dark, from My feet (The Crossing). Summer 2021 saw the world premiere of The Crocus Palimpsest, a solo cello work for virtuoso Matt Haimovitz, as well as a first look at Act I of Little's upcoming opera for GRAMMY-winning tenor Karim Sulayman and Alarm Will Sound, based on Garth Greenwell's celebrated novel What Belongs to You. The full work premieres in 2023. Little is also developing a new work commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera / Lincoln Center Theater new work program. His new film opera Black Lodge, written with Anne Waldman, starring Timur Bekbosunov and produced by Beth Morrison Projects, is previewed in theaters in fall 2021.
Little's music has been presented by the LA Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, LA Opera, the Park Avenue Armory, Holland Festival, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Oregon Bach Festival, and Opéra de Montréal. He has previously served as Executive Director of MATA and on the board of directors at Chamber Music America, and currently chairs the composition program at Mannes—The New School. From 2014–2017, he was Composer-in-Residence with Opera Philadelphia and Music-Theatre Group. The founding artistic director of the ensemble Newspeak, his music can be heard on Pentatone, New Amsterdam, Innova, Sono Luminus, Centaur, Bright Shiny Things, and National Sawdust Tracks labels.
David T. Little is published by Boosey & Hawkes.
OPERA America/Opera.ca Grants Awarded
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| GRANT NAME | YEAR | The Opera Fund: Audience Development | 2017 |
Productions
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Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
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