Stage director and mezzo-soprano Rae Shrum (Stage Director) brings a singer-centered, musically driven approach to operatic storytelling. Her directing credits include The Stone Guest (Independent Opera Company, 2024) and Werther (NELA Opera Collective, 2022), where she has been recognized for her collaborative, performer-empowering rehearsal process. Praised for her “agile and enticing” voice and dynamic stage presence, Shrum maintains an active performance career with rece

Carl Orff was born in 1895 in Munich and displayed musical talent at an early age. He began playing piano at the age of five, later learning cello and organ. In 1911, at just sixteen years old, he published his first work, " Eiland, ein Sang vom Chiemsee ", even before taking any formal courses in music theory. His years of study at the Munich Academy of Music were decisive for his artistic development. Particularly formative were his intensive explorations of early masters s

Independent Opera Company is thrilled to present "Die Kluge" (The Wise Woman) by C. Orff ABOUT THE SHOW A poor peasant’s honest mistake lands him in the dungeon—just as his clever daughter predicted. When her sharp wit saves her life in a battle of riddles, she rises from poverty to the throne. But when the new queen outsmarts the king himself, banishment follows… with one last trick up her sleeve. Carl Orff’s Die Kluge is a witty Grimm fairy tale brought to life with driving

Time: Beginning of the 19th century Time: Beginning of the 19th century Place: The village of  Velikiye Sorochyntsі , near  Poltava Scenes where Mussorgsky did not compose the music are bracketed and marked in italics. The ordering of scenes follows Shebalin's completion. The opera begins with an  overture  suggestive of early morning. This is usually accompanied visually by a scene depicting the fair stalls being set up and visitors arriving. Act 1 Merchants peddle their war

Phil Meyer  is delighted to return to IOC as Phil Meyer  is delighted to return to IOC as Cherevik.  Hailed for a singing voice that is “not half bad,” his opera repertory consists of Bad Guys, Old Guys, and Funny Guys (and a recent spate of non-humans).  Phil has sung major roles in many California companies, including Pacific Opera Project, Lyric Opera of Orange County, Opera Modesto, VOPA, Repertory Opera Company, Mission Opera, and the Mendocino Music Festival.  Concert a

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1809 – 1852) was a classic Russian literary figure, writer, playwright, publicist, and critic. Gogol's most famous works include the collection "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," dedicated to the customs and traditions of the Ukrainian people, and his greatest poem, "Dead Souls." Childhood and Youth Gogol was born on March 20 (April 1), 1809, in the village of Sorochintsy in the Poltava Governorate, to a landowner. He was the third child in a family

We are thrilled to begin our 14th season with something truly special: the US premiere of Modest Mussorgsky’s charming and rarely...

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839–1881)  was one of the greatest Russian composers, a member of the "Mighty Handful", also known as "Mighty  Five", a group of composers who sought to create a distinctively Russian style of classical music, inspired by folk music and national themes.   Early Years Mussorgsky's biography is very interesting; his life was filled with more than just creativity: he knew many prominent figures of his time. Mussorgsky came from an ancient noble fami

We are thrilled to introduce IOC’s 2025-2026 season of  Comedy and Laughter! In November 2025 we will present  Fair at the Sorotichintsy,...