​The Tire Swing

​A circus opera in one act

The Tire Swing is a one-act circus opera composed for two sopranos on Lyra. The piece depicts a woman returning to the overgrown backyard of her childhood home, where she is greeted by her 8-year-old self. Together, on the last night of summer, the woman and child share an adventure. The performers sing while doing acrobatics on the Lyra (the “tire swing”) throughout the show. Ultimately, the opera is an exploration of aging, memory, play, and encourages us to rekindle our child-like joy, while still embracing our adult selves.


The opera received its world premiere at the ​Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philadelphia as part of The 2024 Cannonball Festival. The piece won The Five -Star Award from the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Details

Ensemble: 2 soprano-aerialists and piano

Circus Apparatus: Aerial hoop

Librettist: Laurel Andersen

Language: English

Duration: 23 minutes

Completed: 2024​​​

Program Note