On December 5, nearly 300 people joined us for a sold-out performance of the U.S. premiere of Brooklyn-based The American Opera Project’s Semmelweis!
This opera was inspired by the tragic story of Hungarian obstetrician Ignác Semmelweis (1818-1865), who discovered the cure for a devastating epidemic but could not convince the world of the simple solution; washing one’s hands.
As the world continues to wrestle with unprecedented maternal mortality rates, this performance looks back at the mid-1800’s when Dr. Semmelweis stood up to the prevailing scientific practice of the day in the name of saving mothers and children.
Together we learned about the life of Dr. Semmelweis through the music and libretto of the opera as well as the words of Semmelweis composer Ray Lustig, Semmelweis librettist Matthew Doherty, and NYAM Senior Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Elaine Larson.
View Program
View Slides
Thank you to our partner The American Opera Project, and to our sponsors, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Saraya Co. LTD., and Best Sanitizers, Inc.
View our COVID-19 Safety Protocols for attending NYAM public events.