Rosalind

Rosalind is a new opera exploring the life, work, and legacy of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), the British chemist and crystallographer whose Photo 51 helped reveal the double-helix structure of DNA. Combining gripping drama with a richly textured score, the opera illuminates the personal, political, and scientific pressures Franklin navigated during one of the most consequential periods in modern science.

Composed by Peter Hugh White, with a libretto by Clare Heath, Rosalind will premiere in April 2026 at the Grade I listed College Chapel of King's College London — adjacent to where Franklin worked — directed by James Hurley, conducted by Mark Austin and produced by Helix Music.

Peter Hugh White and Clare Heath were in conversation with Rosie Millard about Rosalind, her work as a scientist and the opera for the American series Lost Women of Science conversations, recorded in October 2025.