Gertrude Stein

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) was an American avant-garde writer, poet, and art collector who also made a lasting mark as a librettist. A central figure in the modernist literary and artistic movements of the early 20th century, Stein is best known for her experimental use of language, her Paris salon that attracted many influential artists and writers, and her collaboration with composers on groundbreaking operatic works.

Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and raised in California, Stein later studied at Radcliffe College and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine before moving to Paris in 1903. There, she became a key figure in the expatriate artistic community, hosting salons that included the likes of Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Henri Matisse. Her home in Paris became a hub of modernist thought and innovation.

As a writer, Stein was known for her radical experiments in form and language. Her prose often defied traditional narrative, favoring repetition, rhythm, and abstraction to explore consciousness and identity. This same style informed her work as a librettist, most notably in her collaboration with composer Virgil Thomson on two landmark operas: Four Saints in Three Acts (1934) and The Mother of Us All (1947). The former was revolutionary not only for its surreal libretto and non-narrative structure but also for featuring an all-Black cast in its original production—a bold and progressive choice at the time.

The Mother of Us All, completed shortly before her death, was based on the life of American suffragist Susan B. Anthony and is considered one of the greatest American operas. Stein’s libretti challenged conventional storytelling in opera, pushing boundaries with her playful, poetic, and idiosyncratic language.

Gertrude Stein died in Paris on July 27, 1946. Her legacy as a modernist pioneer continues to influence writers, artists, and composers. As a librettist, she helped redefine what opera could be, bringing literary innovation and linguistic experimentation to the musical stage in ways that remain deeply influential.