Be the Oyster w. Outstanding in the Field

Be The Oyster is a new chamber opera featuring vocalists Eliza Bagg and Vuyo Sotashe that explores human experiences of food systems across agricultural America through an immersive, multi-sensory performance. Composed by Grammy Award-winning, Andrew Yee, the work is scored for string ensemble and two singers. The opera unfolds across several musical vignettes and food and wine pairings, each centered on a distinct food and region, including oysters from the Northeast, citrus from the Southeast, fungi from the Pacific Coast, meat from the Southern Plains, sweet potatoes from the Delta, taro from the Pacific Islands, dairy from the Midwest, and grains from the Mountain States. The vignettes are presented in diverse vocal styles, exploring both regenerative and extractive agricultural practices, with librettos developed by visual storyteller Ariel Aberg-Riger and dramaturgy by Hogfish. The opera is staged as a sit-down meal in partnership with Outstanding in the Field, and audiences are served dishes designed to pair with each musical/regional vignette. With built-in time for dining and social connection, this opera invites audiences into an intimate, participatory environment that foregrounds themes of labor, economic inequality, and climate justice through the universal lens of food.

Photo: Titilayo Ayangade