Exposure is a bold reimagining of Thomas Hardy’s The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved, exploring the intersection of art, power, and the evolving image of the “ideal woman.” Set across three pivotal decades, the 1970s, 1990s, and today, this opera unfolds through the lens of a female model’s portrait sessions, examining how beauty, perception, and agency shift across time. Composer Daniel Felsenfeld and librettist Bea Goodwin, both seasoned voices in contemporary opera, shine a spotlight on the dynamics between artist and muse, particularly in an age reckoning with the legacy of #MeToo. Inspired by Hardy’s structure of three 20-year intervals, Exposure captures the cultural pulse of each era—framed by the political turbulence of Nixon, Clinton, and our current moment—while confronting how women have been shaped, silenced, and sometimes shattered by the gaze of the artist and the media alike. This work is an invitation to question the power structures behind image-making and to reflect on the untold stories of those caught in their frame. By centering female voices, Exposure challenges traditional narratives and opens space for dialogue around consent, identity, and the cost of being seen.

​