by The Violin Channel December 11, 2025

Festival Napa Valley announced the commissioning and world premiere of a new one-act opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, titled “The Judgment of Paris.”

The work will debut with full orchestra on July 18, 2026, on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug Winery, as part of the festival’s 20th Anniversary Season.

The production will feature sopranos Danielle De Niese and Brenda Rae, baritone Quinn Kelsey, tenor Nicholas Phan, and mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh. They are joined by Festival Napa Valley’s Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellows. The opera will be directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini and conducted by Kent Nagano, with projections by a team of designers whose credits include the Paris Olympics.

“The Judgment of Paris reimagines the iconic 1976 blind tasting that put Napa Valley wines on the global stage and forever changed the relationship between tradition and innovation,” the Festival shared. “The opera brings the gods of Olympus together with the pioneers of California winemaking in a hilarious and heartfelt celebration of discovery, creativity, and transformation.”

Festival Napa Valley announced the commissioning and world premiere of a new one-act opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, titled “The Judgment of Paris.”

The work will debut with full orchestra on July 18, 2026, on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug Winery, as part of the festival’s 20th Anniversary Season.

The production will feature sopranos Danielle De Niese and Brenda Rae, baritone Quinn Kelsey, tenor Nicholas Phan, and mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh. They are joined by Festival Napa Valley’s Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellows. The opera will be directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini and conducted by Kent Nagano, with projections by a team of designers whose credits include the Paris Olympics.

“The Judgment of Paris reimagines the iconic 1976 blind tasting that put Napa Valley wines on the global stage and forever changed the relationship between tradition and innovation,” the Festival shared. “The opera brings the gods of Olympus together with the pioneers of California winemaking in a hilarious and heartfelt celebration of discovery, creativity, and transformation.”