Vincent – a biographical opera centering on the life of artist Vincent van Gogh - is the second world premier for the music school, following the 2006 debut of ‘Our Town'. 1984 Pulitzer Prize winner and Vincent composer Bernard Rands said the opera will draw critics from across the world to Bloomington.
"This institution," he said, "somebody, collectively, probably the trustees and people in the art world here felt that it's a monument to a great artist and why shouldn't it be in Bloomington, Indiana."
Rands said the opera will not shy away from the turbulent times in van Gogh's life, including struggles with alcoholism and epilepsy that contributed to the artist's eventual suicide.
Vincent opens Friday at IU's Musical Arts Center.