the nyco relaunched from bankruptcy in january 2016 and had to cut the schedule from sixteen performances of four operas in 2017-18 to just "stonewall" this season, plus several works in smaller venues. "stonewall" was commissioned by the nyco and its general director michael capasso who matched up composer iain bell, and librettist mark campbell. they only had nine months to complete the project as although it had been shortlisted, the coincidence of the two event anniversaries coinciding had not been realized. when asked what they hoped audiences would remember from the experience they agreed, when diverse people band together they can end oppression.