Cotton

A spellbinding multimedia song cycle bringing together the extraordinary cotton photography of John Dowell with newly commissioned poems by renowned poets, including Nikki Giovanni, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and Alora Young.

Brilliantly set to music by composer Damien Geter, for mezzo-soprano, baritone, and piano, the song cycle unfolds against the backdrop of enormous, constantly evolving images projected throughout this mesmerizing song experience. This profound journey, deep into the world of cotton, balances tragic history with resilience, hope, and high art.

Cotton was inspired by the cotton photography of John Dowell. Cotton was conceived and the poetry and music were commissioned by Lyric Fest (Philadelphia).

A co-production of La Jolla Music Society and San Diego Opera, Cotton is part of La Jolla Music Society’s ProtoStar Innovative series.

Friday, January 16, 2026
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, La Jolla

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