Missy Mazzoli first woman to premiere opera at Metropolitan Opera

Composer Missy Mazzoli has become the first woman to have an opera premiered by the Metropolitan Opera in its 143-year history, CBS News reported.

Her new opera, "Lincoln in the Bardo," is based on George Saunders' novel and explores President Abraham Lincoln's grief over the death of his 11-year-old son, Willie.

Mazzoli drew inspiration from punk rock and MTV, appreciating punk's raw emotional expression and the immersive experience of music videos, which influenced her artistic approach.

The opera is set during the Civil War, a time of deep division in America, and Mazzoli sees the work as relevant to contemporary issues of division and grief.

To prepare for the opera, Mazzoli spent time in cemeteries to connect with the themes of loss and mourning depicted in the story.