Politics, sex, religion, and power converge in the turbulent Massachusetts Bay Colony, culminating in the 1637 trial of Puritan Anne Hutchinson. In a gripping new opera by James Kallembach, this dramatic chapter of Boston’s history comes to life, delving into the roots of America’s unique political DNA. At its heart is the clash between midwife and spiritual leader Anne Hutchinson and Governor John Winthrop—a battle over public versus private, common good versus individual freedom, and law versus home.
This fictional operatic retelling interweaves communal singing from sources like the Bay Psalm Book, excerpts from Hutchinson’s meticulously documented trial, and an array of primary texts—from bawdy rhymes to iconic works of embroidery. John Winthrop, his wife Margaret, and Anne Hutchinson struggle to find meaning alongside Anne’s young protégé Mary and her lover Tom, who hope to escape to the promise of a life outside of Boston’s political and religious strife. Communal order, free-wheeling expression, and female oppression mete out consequences every bit as dire as those feared from God’s providence.
Commissioned by the Harvard Choruses, the world premiere of American Jezebel will be conducted by Dr. Hana Cai in a semi-staged concert performance. Soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper stars as Anne Hutchinson, with baritone Sumner Thompson as John Winthrop, and a talented cast of performers bringing this powerful story to the stage.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
8:00 pm ET
Sanders Theatre: 45 Quincy St. Cambridge, MA 02138
$25 General Admission, $10 Undergraduate Harvard Students, $50 VIP
