Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti is a chamber opera in seven scenes with a libretto by the composer. The casting and orchestra are extremely limited, using only two characters, a small trio which acts as a chorus, and chamber orchestra. The production instructions by Bernstein are very specific, requiring simple sets done in black and white "cartoon" style, explicit indications as to such details as character dress, diction, gesture, and singing style. The music is very modern and jazzy, opening with an introduction with a loose swing feeling to the writing. The numbers tend to be closed forms, with the jazzy trio commenting ironically on the satire. As the opera opens, the chorus is dressed in evening attire with blue dinner jackets for the men and a white evening gown for the soprano. They sing in a breathy crooning manner over a swinging accompaniment. The main characters are Dinah and Sam, and the plot, if there is one, is about the distance which has arisen between them. They fantasize about living together on Tahiti. Dinah especially escapes into fantastic imaginings based on what they have learned about the place from television and the movies. The name of the opera comes from the movie which is playing at the local cinema, and fuels some of her daydreams.

This thoroughly "modern" opera premiered at Brandeis University at the Festival of the Creative Arts in Waltham, MA, on June 12, 1952. The opera A Quiet Place was written as a sequel, and takes place after Dinah's death.

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