A First Look at the Opera About Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs

The creators of A Marvelous Order—an opera based on the lives of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs—have released a video providing a first peek at the songs and ideas behind the opera.

1 minute read

January 27, 2016, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


We last heard about an opera focusing on the lives of Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses in September, but we recently caught wind of a video meant to promote the opera as it ramps up toward large-scale release. A Marvelous Order, as the opera is called, now has its own website that offers a lot more detail about the creative team working to prepare the opera for a 2017 debut in New York City.

The website also includes a short video, featuring introductions to Moses and Jacobs, as well as some short clips from preview runs of the opera performed in September. Two songs are featured, one each for Moses and Jacobs.

The narrator of the video also offers this teaser about how the opera's narrative will unfold: "The way the opera frames the conflict between Moses and Jacobs is as a love story. Moses and Jacobs are vying for the love of the city."

A MARVELOUS ORDER from New Amsterdam on Vimeo.

Monday, January 25, 2016 in A Marvelous Order

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit