ALL OLIVEROS

2024-2025

Embark on a year-long journey through the revolutionary works of Pauline Oliveros. Join us for an unforgettable curation of live performances and online experiences that dive deep into her wide range of operatic innovations and enduring legacy in sound.

who is pauline oliveros?

Award-winning composer, artist and humanitarian Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016) expanded the concept of sound with her potent, genre-defying approach to music and art. As the visionary behind the philosophy of "Deep Listening," her works and practice explored new rituals of performance and ensemble dynamics, while profoundly challenging and redefining the traditional processes of creating "new music" for an entire generation. Oliveros composed many pieces she labeled as “operas” throughout her career–one that "spanned fifty years of making music."(The Pauline Oliveros Trust). 

A queer-identifying, Mexican-American artist from Houston, Texas, Oliveros was known for her work across multiple disciplines and styles. She maintained strong connections to California, where she co-founded the San Francisco Tape Music Center and taught at Mills College and the University of California, San Diego. LBO is honored to collaborate with her partner and artistic collaborator, multidisciplinary artist IONE, as well as the Pauline Oliveros Trust and estate, to celebrate and continue her legacy with a year-long exploration of her operatic work.

[P.C. Center for Contemporary Music Archives, Mills College]

DECEMBER 15, 2024 @ 3 PM
ANGELS GATE CULTURAL CENTER | SAN PEDRO

EARTH EARS:

A SONIC RITUAL

(1982-1985)

Our journey begins with an intimate introduction to Oliveros' bold operatic works. This special, one-time-only daytime performance features Earth Ears: A Sonic Ritual—a meditative, interactive text score designed to bring performers and audience together in a powerful act of communal deep listening. Engage in an exploration of sound, listening and daring operatic ideas in this immersive kickoff event.

CAST & CREATIVE

FEBRUARY 15, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
FEBRUARY 16, 2025 @ 2:30 PM
THE HERITAGE SQUARE MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES

EL RELICARIO DE

LOS ANIMALES

(1979)

Experience one of Oliveros’ most emotional scores, exploring the interconnectedness of humans and animals through improvisational sound. Renowned mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton takes on the dual role of singer and leader, challenging operatic tradition while delving into themes of human instinct and the evocative power of the voice. Featuring staged sequences, a grand orchestral ensemble, and brilliant soprano Brenda Rae as both singer and percussionist. Set in a historic indoor-outdoor venue, rich with the legacy of Los Angeles County, this event reveals the evocative depth of Oliveros' most inventive sonic landscapes.

CAST & CREATIVE

APRIL 12 & 13, 2025@ 7:30 PM
RMS QUEEN MARY | LONG BEACH

THE LIBRARY OF MAPS:

AN OPERA IN MANY PARTS

U.S. West Coast Premiere & A New Performance Edition

(2001)

Step aboard the iconic RMS Queen Mary for the landmark premiere of a new performance edition of Oliveros and Roth’s groundbreaking opera—only the second presentation since its debut in 2001. Audiences will have the chance to experience one of Oliveros’ most inventive, improvisational and poetic operas set against the ocean liner’s storied 1960s backdrop. This new production pays tribute to Pauline Oliveros' experimental spirit, bringing together actors, singers, visual art, dance and deep poetic meaning with a rare orchestral ensemble featuring accordion, trombone and traditional Japanese koto. Each of the two performances, slightly distinct, offers an immersive encounter with Oliveros' decades of boundary-dissolving musical innovation, all within one of Long Beach’s most treasured historic venues.

CAST & CREATIVE

JULY 26 & 27, 2025 | VENUE TBA

THE NUBIAN WORD

FOR FLOWERS:

A PHANTOM OPERA

U.S. WEST COAST PREMIERE

(2016) [Pocket edition]

The long-awaited 3rd LBO Film Festival returns, this year focusing on Pauline Oliveros’ legacy as a queer artist. This two-day event showcases films, digital works and performances that highlight her profound influence on sound, music and art, while spotlighting queer artists innovating across film, opera, music and new technologies.

At the heart of the festival is The Nubian Word for Flowers, an opera collaboration between Oliveros and her partner, multidisciplinary artist IONE. This powerful work delves into the Nubian diaspora and the life of Lord Kitchener, blending live performance, electronics and moving images to create a dreamlike exploration of Nubian soul and colonial history.

CAST & CREATIVE

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