Opera Preview: The Immortal Legacy of Gilgamesh

The museum presents an exclusive preview of a brand-new opera inspired by the timeless Epic of Gilgamesh, set within the Mesopotamian gallery. Commissioned by the Assyrian Arts Institute, this special program features the opera’s prologue and select musical scenes from the production, which is scheduled to premiere in 2026 in Cerritos, California. The work explores enduring themes of friendship, courage, love, mortality, and divine destiny. The event will also include a short talk by Eckart Frahm, John M. Musser Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Yale University, who will discuss the original Gilgamesh tablets and the excavation of King Ashurbanipal’s Royal Library at Nineveh, drawing from his recent book Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire.

Free and open to the public. Free tickets are limited. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage 4:30–9:30 pm.