“OPERAbbit” was written for the 2018 collaboration between American Opera Projects, Hunter Opera Theater, and the New York Opera Fest. Its premiere was performed by the Talea Ensemble, conducted by David Fulmer.
The libretto was written by Mariel Mayz and her brother, Andrew Mayz.

The setting of this opera takes place in an unnamed Latin American country, but the plot marks the struggle of the country of Venezuela. The opera is a surrealistic portrayal that tells the story of emotional and physical depravation brought on by the lack of food and lack of political leadership. In this dark-humor narrative, government officials provide starving households with rabbits to breed and eventually eat. The story’s main character is a father grappling between humanity and hunger as his daughter’s only social interaction is her “pet” conejo, due to the dangers of social, political, and economic unrest.

Mayz chose to write this story as a tribute to her family still living in Caracas, as turmoil in the country was (and still is) extremely high.
6.8 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014 to escape violence, insecurity and threats as well as lack of food, medicine and essential services. According to the UN, this has become the second-largest external displacement crisis in the world. But the stories of people still living in the country are heartbreaking and essential to tell.
This sad narrative is told with bizarre humor because, according to Mayz, the line between fact and fiction, and the disbelief of such a situation almost needs to be comical.

Many other Latin American and Caribbean countries have histories of turmoil due to the junctions of political, economic, and social crises. Musically, Mayz incorporates popular anthems and songs (both words and melodies) of Venezuela, Cuba, and other Latinx countries. The opera is written in Spanglish to honor her own roots as an American-born and bring attention to the communicative means of refugee/immigrant households.

Instrumentation:
VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
DOUBLE BASS
CLARINET in Bb / BASS CLARINET in Bb
FLUTE / ALTO FLUTE
PIANO
PERCUSSION
(MARIMBA ,GLOCKENSPIEL, BASS DRUM, CLAVE, CABASA, CONGA, MARACAS)