The Galloping Cure

The Galloping Cure is Norrlandsoperan's largest international co-production to date. The opera is composed by Grammy-nominated composer Missy Mazzoli and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Royce Vavrek, based on a story by Karen Russell inspired by Franz Kafka's novella A Country Doctor. Directed by Tom Morris with choreography by Leah Hausman.

A mysterious man arrives in town with a carousel of horses. Riding them makes all pain disappear. The city's doctor, Theresa Hart, senses trouble but doesn't want to deny her patients help. The first ride is free. Getting off is far more difficult.

On stage are mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack and baritone Justin Austin (USA), soprano Susan Bullock (UK), and Swedish-Norwegian soprano Sandra Bendrik. The symphony orchestra is conducted by Jessica Cottis. The Riksbank Jubilee Fund finances Norrlandsoperan's share of the production, enabling collaboration with professors Mats G. Hansson (Uppsala University) and Susanne Lundin (Lund University) on ethical gray areas in the pharmaceutical industry. The work also draws on the creators' own experiences with the opioid crisis in the USA.

World premiere takes place at Edinburgh International Festival on 9 August, with the Nordic premiere at Norrlandsoperan on 12 September. Only five public performances are held in Umeå, after which the production continues to San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and State Opera of South Australia.

The opera is sung in English with Swedish and English subtitles. An introduction is held in the foyer 30 minutes before curtain; refreshments open one hour before start. Opera Live at the cinema: Saturday 19 September. Audio description: Saturday 23 September (narrator: Stina Lundin).