On July 18, Quinn Kelsey stars as Bacchus in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s The Judgment of Paris, a one-act opera with a libretto by Gene Scheer. Inspired by true events, The Judgment of Paris tells the story of Bacchus, the god of wine, who defends the winemaking supremacy of the French, and Venus, who champions curiosity and change. Their celestial rivalry spills from Olympus to 1976 Paris and Napa Valley, where a blind wine tasting upends the industry and redefines California’s place in the world.
Performing alongside Kelsey are Danielle De Niese as Venus, Nicholas Phan as Stephen Spurrier, Simone McIntosh as Patricia Gallagher, and Brenda Rae as Odette Kahn. The all-star cast sings under the baton of legendary conductor Kent Nagano, and will be directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini, with projections by a team of designers whose credits include the Paris Olympics.
