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“The Light that Failed”

An eccentric but brilliant young Russian Composer attempts to change the world of classical music with an obscure and mysterious opera, but in the end, cannot save himself from his own terminal illness.

WGA/West Registered # 2201731

The Seattle Metropolitan Opera is old. Dated. Its land has

become more valuable than they are. Teetering on bankruptcy, and

just weeks away from insolvency, fate and a skeptical Mayor

gives them one last chance to try and turn things around.

Out of nowhere, Yuri appears. He’s a young, dashing, brilliant

Russian composer who arrives with a rare violin, and an obscure

never-performed opera that he guarantees will save them, and

change the world of classical music forever. We quickly learn

that Yuri is filthy rich, madly eccentric, and a genius in

almost every category. But we also get the feeling there’s

something more to Yuri. Something mysterious. Almost un-earthly.

Set against a contentious national election, in a city where

everything new and high-tech is plowing over everything old and

traditional, Yuri embarks on an amazing, but grueling opera

schedule, the likes of which the world has never seen before. 

Rumors of his opera begin to swirl, and soon the city, and the

entire world is watching and waiting. Culminating in a season-

ending performance on Christmas Eve. One night. One performance. 

The world’s first, “Perfect Opera”. But sadly, in the end, he

cannot escape his rare, terminal illness. But in death, we also

learn Yuri’s fascinating secret. 


Published inScreenplays