How can Contemporary Opera Contribute to the Discussion on Gender Roles? The Case of Comic-Strip Opera Alpha

Abstract

Discussions on gender in operatic discourse began gaining traction in the last quarter of the twentieth century with the emergence of feminist opera studies. This article examines these discussions by focusing on the Lithuanian comic-strip opera Alpha. The opera explores the transformation of gender roles by telling the story of the poet Federico García Lorca through the eyes of his sister, Isabelle. In this article, I question the role of contemporary opera in such discussions, analyzing how Alpha’s creative team – director, stage and costume designer Gintarė Minelgaitė alias Dr. GoraParasit, composer Albertas Navickas, and librettist Gabrielė Labanauskaitė – constructs the image of a woman who dares to challenge the established social order.