Proving Up: an opera by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek

A chilling tale of the American prairie by two of opera’s most innovative creators.  The Zegner family are homesteaders in 19th century Nebraska who strive to own their land free and clear by satisfying the government’s requirements to “prove up”, including a sod house, five years of harvest, and perhaps the most elusive element - a glass window.  The Zegners send their son Miles to share the window with another family who awaits a visit from the government inspector, but things go awry as he travels through a landscape of past tragedies and spirits and comes face to face with the Sodbuster - a dark and menacing man who has first-hand experience with the fragility of the American Dream.