When Minnesota Opera announced its new works initiative in 2008, "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis" was anticipated as one of the program's crown jewels. Indeed, "The Grapes of Wrath" by composer Ricky Gordon and librettist Michael Korie raised the profile of the new work and artistic director Dale Johnson said the success of "Grapes" had triggered the new-works idea.

That is why it must have been a painful decision to pull the plug on the project. This week, the Opera released a statement that it "no longer has plans to produce 'The Garden of Finzi-Continis.' Mr. Gordon and Mr. Korie will announce their plans for the work at a future date."

The Opera did a healthy workshop for the piece in the spring of 2010, inviting major donors in to watch as singers tested out the new work. After that workshop, though, the Opera said the piece needed more work and "Finzi-Continis" was pushed from its original slot in April, 2011 to April, 2013. When the 2012-13 season announcement landed this week, "Finzi-Continis" was nowhere to be seen and Opera officials then announced that they were ending their involvement in the project.