The Story Behind 'Fire Shut Up in My Bones'

Hear from composer Terence Blanchard, librettist Kasi Lemmons, director James Robinson, and artist Karen Slack!

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis commissioned the world premiere of Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated composer Terence Blanchard and librettist/film director Kasi Lemmons’s 'Fire Shut Up in My Bones,' based on the memoir of celebrated writer and New York Times columnist Charles Blow. The commission is the fifth opera in OTSL's New Works, Bold Voices series, which launched in 2013 with Mr. Blanchard’s first opera, 'Champion.' The series is grounded in OTSL’s commitment to commission new operas that reflect the diversity of the modern American experience.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones will open on June 15, 2019 and run for six performances. OTSL Artistic Director James Robinson will direct, and William Long will conduct. The acclaimed cast will include Opera Theatre of Saint Louis debuts of soprano Julia Bullock and bass-baritone Davóne Tines. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. The opera has been co-commissioned with Jazz St. Louis.