Killer Queen Opera Co.
directed by karina camile parker & christina swanson
Killer Queen Opera is a female-led arts organization based out of New York City committed to providing an inclusive platform for artists and audiences alike. KQO is dedicated to featuring female artists, artists of color, and the LGBTQ+ community through uplifting artistic experiences that bring awareness to issues that our communities face today. Visit the Killer Queen Opera Co. website here.
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Poppea
In 2020 KQO produced a film version of Claudio Monteverdi's classic opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea - a passion project of co-founders Karina Parker and Christina Swanson. Poppea aims to create a community of opera lovers and opera newcomers alike, providing a free and relevant operatic experience to the community. Our interpretation aims to be relevant and meaningful to our local community, have a representationally diverse cast of NYC emerging artists, and be accessible to everyday audiences.
Poppea is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L’incoronazione di Poppea was written in 1643 and credited to the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi. It follows the Roman Emperor Nero’s descent into tyranny as he coronates his mistress. For centuries, stagings of Poppea have presented Nero as a power hungry villain--a contrast to the libretto, which offers a nuanced perspective. Leaning into this nuance, our production of Poppea will complicate this narrative in a refreshing take on this historic tale.
"Co-Directing Poppea with my amazing colleague and friend Christina Swanson has been the single greatest highlight of my professional career. Every single individual in this company has brought their personal experience and artistic touch to this film, breathing new life into this already beautiful, yet painful, story. My hope is that our Poppea reinvigorates a passion for the arts and our community, both for those who already love opera, and for those that never thought they would."
- Karina Camile Parker