Opera for Revolution

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM, just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, PROTESTRA will take the stage at Roulette Intermedium (509 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217) to present Opera for Revolution. The concert of operatic excerpts highlights urgent social issues, interrogates power structures in the U.S. government, and—in the spirit of “America at 250”—encourages audience members to embrace the revolutionary act of voting to protect the American ideals of freedom and equality.

Led by Music & Artistic Director Michelle Rofrano and Associate Conductor Kamna Gupta, the performance features an exciting roster of operatic soloists accompanied by the PROTESTRA Orchestra. Throughout history, composers have used opera’s unique combination of music and drama to hold up a mirror to society, often tackling themes of politics and national identity during times of social upheaval. This concert program honors and continues that legacy, ranging from beloved staples of the repertoire to contemporary works that explore modern issues. Highlights include memorable moments from Rossini’s William Tell, Puccini’s Tosca, Tesori’s Blue, Menotti’s The Consul, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Verdi’s Don Carlo, and more. 

PROTESTRA will donate a portion of ticket proceeds to Acacia Center for Justice, a nonprofit organization that supports and partners with a national network of human rights defenders who provide legal defense to immigrants at risk of detention or deportation. In addition to raising funds for marginalized groups directly affected by voting outcomes, PROTESTRA also hopes to inspire increased civic engagement in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections by sharing educational materials for voters, beginning with a reminder that the voter registration deadline for local New York audiences is Saturday, October 24. To search for your state’s registration deadline, locate your polling place, and more, visit vote.org.

***If you are unable to attend this event in person but would still like to contribute to support Acacia Center for Justice, you may do so through our concert crowdfunding campaign page: donorbox.org/opera-for-revolution

TAKE FURTHER ACTION:

TELL CONGRESS TO PROTECT LEGAL SERVICES FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN - ACTION NETWORK <-

PROGRAM

Overture: Finale

William Tell

Giaochino Rossini

"Dovunque al mondo"

Madama Butterfly

Giacomo Puccini

"Der Hölle rache"

Die Zauberflöte

W. A. Mozart

"Restate!"

Don Carlo

Giuseppe Verdi

"Within this frail crucible"

The Rape of Lucretia

Benjamin Britten

"You've become one of the people we hated"

The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

Mason Bates

INTERMISSION

Act II

Tosca

Giacomo Puccini

"To this we've come" ... "Papers!"

The Consul

Gian Carlo Menotti

Senza Mamma

Suor Angelica

Giacomo Puccini

"J'ai perdu ta photo"

Silent Night

Kevin Puts

"Quiero cantar entre las explosiones"

Ainadamar

Osvaldo Golijov

"Er sterbe"

Fidelio

Ludwig van Beethoven

Epilogue

Blue

Jeanine Tesori

"Va, pensiero"

Nabucco

Giuseppe Verdi

CAST LIST

Coming soon - stay tuned!

- Opera excerpts will be sung in a variety of languages with projected English supertitles projected in English. Access to a digital program with texts translations will be available for everyone. If you would like a printed booklet with texts and translations, that can be added on to your ticket order.

- We encourage buying tickets in advance, as seating is limited. Seating is general admission by section, which means first come, first served - please refer to the individual ticket descriptions for more info.

***If the cost of a ticket presents a financial barrier, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team: team@protestra.org.