Studio Sound: Sable Elyse Smith

The second annual Studio Sound performance series at MoMA premieres “If you unfolded us”, a new opera by Sable Elyse Smith, in collaboration with composer David Dominique and vocalist Freddie June.

The opera features two voices and an eight-piece chamber ensemble, telling a love story between two Black women and a journey of self-discovery. Dominique’s score blends R&B, jazz, musique concrète, and contemporary chamber music, set against a stormy backdrop to explore the political and dramatic potential of the voice. Smith’s libretto and video, incorporating found footage and performers’ imagery, transform the Studio into a multimedia installation.