Safronia

An extraordinary new opera from inaugural Chicago Poet Laureate avery r. young, safronia blends gospel, blues, funk, folklore, poetry, and history to tell a tale of triumph and trauma, ownership and loss. Banished from their land, the Booker family is deadset on reclaiming what’s theirs and granting their patriarch’s last wish. But one final reckoning remains: safronia must avenge her father’s death.

safronia is an epic poem told through the vibrant music of the hundreds of thousands of African Americans who journeyed to Chicago during the Great Migration—and a revelatory conclusion to the 2026/27 season. It celebrates the sonic legacy of artists like Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, and Oscar Brown Jr., and completely reimagines the scope of the American classical music landscape.

After mounting a concert-style performance at Lyric Opera, composer avery r. young and director Timothy Douglas bring a fully realized production to Court’s intimate venue, promising an evening that shimmers, soars, and binds us in a communal American history.

Accessible Performances

• Touch Tour, Audio Description, ASL Interpretation: Saturday, June 5 at 2:00pm

• Open Captioning: Sunday, June 6 at 2:00pm

safronia was workshopped and commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago, with its world premiere concert-style production at Lyric Opera House on April 17-18, 2026.

If you have any questions about access or to request a reasonable accommodation that will facilitate your full participation in this event such as ASL interpreting, captioned videos, Braille or electronic text, food options for individuals with dietary restrictions, etc. please contact the event organizer.