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# Watch a Modern Opera About a Witch Hunt at the Day of Music Festival
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/watch-a-modern-opera-about-a-witch-hunt-at-the-day-of-music-festival/
- Published: 2017-06-20T21:45:52.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:27:05.000Z
- Description: Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser, an opera made specifically for TV and online, features over 350 musicians, including the opera star Deborah Voigt.
- Author: Matt Stromberg
- Tags: Art, Events, Grand Central Art Center, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:30(2016, 2017, part 3)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2017/06/rowensabalaasvireo_byremsenallard.jpg)

Rowen Sabala as Vireo (image by Remsen Allard)

Traditionally, operas are grand public spectacles that take place in stately music halls dedicated to the genre. [*Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser*](http://www.operavireo.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com)provides a contemporary twist on this formula: a modern opera made specifically to be viewed on TV and online. Composed by [Lisa Bielawa](http://www.lisabielawa.net/?ref=hyperallergic.com) with a libretto by Erik Ehn, the 12-part series follows the titular character, a 14-year-old girl, as she explores historical connections between female visionaries, hysteria, and witch hunts — subjects which are disconcertingly relevant. Over 350 musicians contributed to the production, including the opera star Deborah Voigt, Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Partch, and many more.

A product of the [Artist Residency of Grand Central Art Center](http://www.grandcentralartcenter.com/artist-in-residence-program/?ref=hyperallergic.com) in Santa Ana, Vireo made its online and TV debut recently on [KCET](https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/projects/vireo?ref=hyperallergic.com), and, this Wednesday, as part of the town of Fullerton’s [Day of Music](http://thedayofmusic.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) festival, there’ll be a screening of all 12 episodes, with appearances by Bielawa, Vireo lead Rowen Sabala, tenor Ryan Joseph Glover, CSUF Grand Central Art Center director John Spiak, and others. The event is free, but [RSVP](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/day-of-music-presents-vireo-exclusive-screening-tickets-34179360387?ref=hyperallergic.com) is required.

**When:** Wednesday, June 21, 6–10pm  
**Where:** Louis E Plummer Auditorium(201 E. Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, California)

*More info* [*here*](http://www.operavireo.org/screenings?ref=hyperallergic.com)*.*