THE MILE-LONG OPERA, A BIOGRAPHY OF 7 O’CLOCK

For six consecutive nights, October 3 - 8, 2018, 1,000 singers from across New York will come together on the High Line for the first-ever performances of The Mile-Long Opera: a biography of 7 o'clock. Co-produced by Diller Scofidio + Renfo and the High Line, this a sweeping free choral work will immerse audiences in the personal stories of hundreds of New Yorkers about life in our rapidly changing city. 

At the heart of this new work is an extensive community engagement initiative with non-profit cultural organizations across all five boroughs: Abrons Arts Center and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in Manhattan, ARTs East NY in Brooklyn, Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement in Queens, The POINTCDC in the Bronx, and Snug Harbor in Staten Island. Each partner serves as a hub for engaging audiences off the High Line—by recruiting choirs, holding open rehearsals and workshops, and hosting events.

The Mile-Long Opera is conceived by composer David Lang and architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Poets Anne Carson and Claudia Rankine wrote the text, inspired by real-life stories, gathered through first-hand interviews with residents throughout the city, asking what 7:00 pm means to them.