Opera Theatre of Saint Louis built its name on new American opera, and its 2027 festival crowns with one: the world premiere of ‘Safe Haven’ by composer Tobias Picker and librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman, running June 12–26, 2027, at the Loretto-Hilton Center, directed by Patricia Racette.
The opera follows a young Jewish singer fleeing Europe as World War II closes in, crossing the ocean toward an uncertain future — and weaves in Eleanor Roosevelt, whose advocacy for refugees threads the story toward its closing note of hope: the work we all share toward a world of greater understanding and peace. Picker, among America’s most performed opera composers, writes for OTSL’s stage for a company that has made premieres its signature.
World premieres are where opera’s future gets decided. St. Louis gets a front-row seat.
‘Safe Haven’ is at the Loretto-Hilton Center, Webster Groves. Tickets at opera-stl.org.
