"Pepito" an animated dog opera

New Opera West is thrilled to present "Pepito," the world's first animated dog opera!

“Pepito” tells the story of a couple who go to an animal shelter hoping to adopt a puppy, but are met with surprise and uncertainty. Is Pepito the right dog for them? What makes the perfect companion?

Pepito explores what it means to take a chance on love and family.

Music by Nicolas Lell Benavides

Libretto by Marella Martin Koch

Animation by Esperanza Guevara and Connor Jacobs

Character Design: Chun Chun Chang

Angie: Alexandra Christoforakis, mezzo-soprano

Camila: Alexandra Nowakowski, soprano

Pepito: Samuel J. Weiser, bass

David: Joshua Blue, tenor

*For a full list of musicians, please see credits

*Commissioned by the Washington National Opera at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and first produced at the Kennedy Center during the 2018/19 season.

New Opera West (NOW) is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote the growth and professional development of composers, librettists and performers in the creation of new opera. By exploring timely themes and stories that feature opportunities for a diverse group of artists, we strive to not only attract new opera audiences but also work towards the sustainability of opera in the 21st century.