TheideaofthisproductionofStuckElevatoractuallystarted withmewaybackinspringof2006 Ourcompanywasinthe middle of rehearsals here in Nashville for a production of Puccini’sTurandot.AwonderfultenornamedJuliusAhnwas amemberofourcastandsingingtheroleofoneofthehigh priests.Duringabreak,IaskedJuliuswhatwascomingupnext forhim.Juliustoldmehewasgoingtobeworkshoppingand developing a new work called Stuck Elevator. It was a fascinatingtitle,andthemoreJuliustoldmeaboutit,themore
I was intrigued by this odd sounding music theater/opera hybrid.In2006,theideaofamusictheater/operahybridwas muchmoreofaveryunusualthing(notsomuchanymore)
Maybe
The plot of the show was inspired by the true story of an undocumented immigrant named Ming Kuang Chen, a Chinese-food deliveryman, who was trapped in a Bronx elevator for a long weekend in 2005 In the show, the deliveryman (now named Guang), is a Chinese restaurant deliveryman (who speaks limited English) and is indeed trapped in an elevator for 81 hours. Because Guang is an undocumentedimmigrant,hehesitatestocallforhelp,fearing thepolicewilldiscoverhisstatusandsendhimbacktoChina. As he waits, he hopes someone will somehow discover his precarioussituation.Butafterhoursofwaiting,andthendays, Guang is forced to deal with his overpowering hunger, his over-activebladder,histhoughtsofhisfamilybackhome,and his slowly deteriorating sense of reality. It was an interesting anddifferentideaforamusictheaterpiece,andwhileitwas certainly not a traditional story, I felt the work was a fascinating and compelling creation that proves interesting ideascanoftencomeoutofthestrangestcircumstances
ThemoreIresearchedtheshow,themorethemusicalstyles that were employed stood out The musical styles covered extremely diverse territory, utilizing everything from emotional musical theater styled ballads to melodic operatic ariastohip-hopinfluencedcomicdiatribes-allinserviceto tell the show’s fascinating story. I think one of the things I liked most was the whiplash turns of the show that shifted from surreal comic fantasy to emotional and poignant reflection, to nail biting tension. I found the fantastically eclectic musical score was by turns accessible, melodic, engaging and at times operatically/vocally soaring. And the characters felt extremely relatable to anyone who has ever soughttheAmericandream Andonethingthatreallystood out–somuchoftheshowwasfunny Somanynewopera productionarebereftofanyhumor,butStuckElevator(while ultimately a serious story) reveled in the opportunity to presentthehumoroussideofapotentiallydiresituation
Ifiledtheinformationawayforfuturereference Then,afew yearsago,StuckElevatorcamebackontomyradar.
Andsoherewewillbe,intheintimacyoftheNoahLiffOpera Center, with a newly revised, more operatically flavored productionofStuckElevator.And,afteralltheseyears,tenor JuliusAhnwillbejoiningustoessaytherolehecreatedinthe originalworkshops,Guang.Afterall,Juliuskindofstartedit.
Stuck Elevator feels like the perfect Liff Center show, a beautifully musical and intensely dramatic, yet wrongly neglectedpiece,primednowtofindanewaudience
Thankfully,thestoryofthemanstuckintheelevatorcame toahappyendingafteratriptoMontefioreMedicalCenter. However, Mr. Chen's journey to that particular night, that building,andthatelevatorservesasthecodatoajourneyacross thePacificOceaninthehandsofsmugglerstowhomhe'dpaid $60,000tobringhimtotheUnitedStates.
In that respect, the story of Ming Kuang Chen is not dissimilarfromsomanyothers: thelengthsanundocumented immigrant must go to in order to survive their new life and oftenprovideforthosethey'vebeenforcedtoleavebehind. In hiscase,awifeand12-year-oldsonremainedinFuzhou,China. According to the New York Times article, Chen worked six days every week for the Happy Dragon restaurant, "making about40deliveriesadayonweekdaysandasmanyas60aday onweekends."
We'reproudtobepartneringwiththeTennesseeImmigrant &RefugeeRightsCoalition(TIRRC)forpost-showtalkback sessionsaftereachperformanceofStuckElevator. In order to properlycontextualizeandunderstandwhatitit'sliketobeMr. Chen-undocumentedintheUS,inTennessee,inNashvilleit'sourresponsibilityandprivilegeto takethisdeeperlookwith our friends at TIRRC and open a dialogue for the Nashville Operaaudiencetoseethosewhosooftenmustremainhidden
ThefrontpageoftheWednesday,April6,2005editionof the New York Times featured a below-the-fold headline that reads "3 Hungry Days For Deliveryman Stuck in Elevator" What unfolds is a harrowing tale of fear, desperation, and perseveranceunderalmostimpossiblyclaustrophobic,terrifying conditionsinthecarofanexpresselevatorstuckinashaftwith noexitdoorsforthreelevelsbeloworseventeenabove
TheChinesefooddeliveryman,MingKuangChen,leftthe Happy Dragon at 8:30 pm Friday with a small shrimp fried rice and a large curried shrimp with onion He wouldn't reappear until Tuesday morning after New York Fire DepartmentLadderCompanyNo 37loweredthefour-by-sixand-a-half-foot elevator car to ground level and freed its dehydrated occupant He expressed his gratitude and said simply,"Theelevatorbroke"
Aroundthatsametime,otherfooddeliverypersonnelhad beenheld-upatgunpoint Somewerekilledafterbeingrobbed ofthemoneythey'dcollectedfromtheirmostrecentdrop-offs Due to these extenuating circumstances, the NYPD searched door to door in the building where Mr Chen took his last delivery,andevenwentasfarassendingdivers,bloodhounds, andcadaverdogstoexplorethereservoirandparksnearby
Sincetheirfoundingin2003,TIRRChasgrownfroman informalnetworkofcommunityleadersintooneofthemost diverse and effective coalitions of its kind, a model for immigrant rights organizations in the Southeast and throughouttheUnitedStates
TIRRC is nationally recognized for multiethnic, multigenerational coalition building, effective legislative advocacy,andaward-winningcommunicationsinitiatives They organize both individual immigrant and refugees, as well as organizationsthatserveimmigrantandrefugeecommunities Their mission is to build power, amplify voices, and organize communitiestoadvocatefortheirrights TIRRC'svisionisa stronger, more inclusive Tennessee where people of all nationalities, immigration statuses, and racial identities can belongandthrive
"IthoughtIwouldneverseedaylightagain."
BY WILL SHUTES
TellmethestorybehindStuckElevator'screation.Howdid thetruestorybehindtheworkcometoyourattention?
Thestoryappearedinitiallyintheformofnewspapershanded outaroundsubwaystationsinNewYorkCity.TheChinesefood deliverymanwasreportedmissing,whichwasacauseforgreat concernassomeoftheseworkersareharmed,becausetheyare undocumented,carrycash,andwon’tgotothepolice
Asthechildofimmigrants,Iholdthepromiseofopportunity frombeforeIwasborn,yetthereisalwaysfearattachedtothis promise ThestoryforStuckElevator( )questionsfreedomand theAmericanDream.
Whatwasitaboutthisstorythatspoketoyouandmadeyou tellitonstage?
WheneverIseeanAsianguyintheUSmedia,especially15years ago,Ithink:“Oh,oh,whatdidhedo?”WhenIreadinTheNew YorkTimesthathesurvivedbeingstuckinanelevatorfor81 hours,Isensedaquietheroism,whichextendedbeyondthe elevatortohisstatusintheUnitedStates
Stuck Elevator is about being trapped in many ways: from individualsgraspingforhopetothiscountrystrugglingtounite. Moreover,theguyisfromFujianProvince,wasaroundmyage, andpaidhumansmugglers$60,000U.S.dollarsforpassagetothe UnitedStatesIcouldbeinasimilarsituationifmygrandparents hadn’tleftFujianProvince.WhenIwasagradstudentatNYU,a securityguardinahighriseinmidtownManhattantookonelook atmeandsaid,“notakeoutmenus.”
WhenIheardaboutthisguy,Iwonderedabouthisthoughtsand fantasies.StuckElevatorcombinesthisimaginingwiththereality ofmydreams,myparents'hopes,andlibrettistAaronJafferis’s ideas,aswellasthemultiplepeopleweinterviewedwhoare connected to this particular immigration story The solution towardsliberationinStuckElevatoristhroughtheimagination.
Howmuchdoesasenseofbeinginbothplaceandculture factorintoyourwork?Didyougrowupinamusicalfamily?
Mymomlovestheartsandmusic,andisfondofsingingShewas anRNwhoworkednights.Mydadjokedthathecouldn’tsing, buthiseldestbrotherlovedmusicandwouldwriteoperaticskits formycousinstoperformattheChineseBaptistChurch.My grandfather,whoplayeddrumswhenhewasyounger,would bangonthepiano.Ifanything,thevariousmusicmakingIwas exposedtofrommyfamilywascomicandterrifyingwhenIwas young,andnowservesasinspirationforhowcultureclashescan cometogetherinmusic
Hereandnow,inearly2023,whatdoesStuckElevatorhave totellusthatitdidn'tatitscreationtenyearsago?
What’sfascinatingaboutrevisitingStuckElevatorin2023,isthat feelingsofbeingtrappedseemmoreurgent Theisolation,grief, andpossibilitiespromptedbyCOVID-19shelter-in-placeorders andtheanti-racismprotestsaroundthecountryhavebecome shared experiences that relate to Guang. For many people, especially my students who suffer from anxiety, pandemic learningwasarefuge,ratherthanaprison.Aswereturntolive performances,Ihopethattheattentiontocareandconnection witheachotherandtheworldthatwasawakened,willcontinue. Rememberthepotsclangingatacertainhourtosupportessential workers?OneofthediscoveriesofStuckElevatoriswhenGuang sings:“Iamhungerinthestomachofthebuilding”Wewillall continuetobetrappedandhungry,ifwecontinuetoignorewhat makesthiscountrystuck
Voice: Tenor
Role: Guang
Past Nashville Opera Engagements: Madame Butterfly (2012)
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Dream Role (no matter what): Mao in John Adams' Nixon in China
Voice: Baritone
Role: Wang Yue and others
Past Nashville Opera Engagements: Company Debut
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Dream Role (no matter what): Rodrigo in Verdi's Don Carlo
Voice: Soprano
Role: Ming and others
Past Nashville Opera Engagements: Mary Ragland Emerging Artist, Rigoletto Noir (2022)
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Dream Role (no matter what): Baby Doe in Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe
Voice: Baritone
Role: Marco and others
Past Nashville Opera Engagements: Maria de Buenos Aires (2017), La Bohème (2022)
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Dream Role (no matter what): Enrico in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor
Voice: Baritone
Role: Zhong Yi and others
Past Nashville Opera Engagements: Madame Butterfly (2012), La Bohème (2014)
Hometown: New York, New York
Dream Role (no matter what): Alexandra in Meredith Monk's Atlas
TheFriendsofNashvilleOperainviteyoutojointhem for La Bella Notte 2023, to be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Grand Hyatt Nashville'sSummitBallroom
Thisyear'sblack-tiegalaleadsusintothegardenofthe comingspringtimewiththethemeLAPRIMAVERA
ChairsSharonandToddSandahlhaveenvisionedan evening filled with the heady romance of blooming flowers,walksdownlush pathsforastolenkiss,and thefaintechoesofasweetly-sungariabetweenlovers
The2023FrancisRobinsonandMarionCouchAward willbepresentedtoLinda&JimMarlerinrecognition oftheiryearsoftirelessworkinsupportoftheFriends ofNashvilleOpera
LindaandJimmovedtoNashvillein2012toretire. TheyareoriginallyfromHobart,INandhavelivedin thePhiladelphia,SanFranciscoandWashingtonDC areasduringtheircareers.
Linda became active in “Hospitality support” for lunchesfortheoperasingersduringrehearsals.Forthe lastfewyearsLindahasbeentheMembershipVPand hasbeenveryproactiveinincreasingandmaintaining membership.
In2014JimwasaskedbyMorelEnochtobethe WineAmbassadortoleadtheselectionofwines forthe2015LaBellaNotteandhascontinuedin thatrolesincethen
The 2023 Mary Ragland Emerging Artists (MREAs),whomyoucanreadmoreabouton pages10and11,willbeonhandtosharetheir amazingvoicesasthecenterpieceoftheevening's entertainment Theseyoungtalentsalsoserveas thecastofNashvilleOperaonTour,andboth theirprogramandthetourarefundedinpartby LaBellaNotte (KeepaneyeoutfortheminThe PiratesofPenzance,too!)
The2023Tourwillreachmoreschoolsthanever beforeand,forthefirsttime,willbefreeofcharge toalltheschools.
TheonlineLBNAuction,chairedbyMilton White,willopenonJanuary26andconclude February4 TheLBNPatronParty,chairedby CynthiaandElliottHimmelfarb,willtakeplace January28attheirresidence.
PleasemakeyourreservationsforLaBellaNotte priortoJanuary27.YoumayphonetheOperaat 6158325242orbookonlineatLaBellaNotteorg
SharonandToddSandahl CHAIRS
TraceyPearson FRIENDSOFNASHVILLE OPERAPRESIDENT
AnneWhetsell
FRIENDSVICEPRESIDENT, SPECIALEVENTS
MiltonWhite AUCTIONCHAIR
CynthiaandElliotHimmelfarb PATRONPARTYCHAIRS
MargaretCarpenter
FRIENDSBOARDLIAISON
CarolPenterman LOGISTICSCHAIR
WillShutes
MARKETING&PRCHAIR
LeeCarroll
SPONSORSHIPSCO-CHAIR
ClaudiaMcCauley
SPONSORSHIPSCO-CHAIR
JasonBradshaw
BobDeal
LeaMargaretHamilton DECORATIONSCOMMITTEE
MeeraBallal
AllisonCotton
EmilyHumphreys
MaryMorganKetchel
RachelRobinson
GENERALCOMMITTEE
BevLeiser
GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS TABLE SPONSORS
MorelHarvey
JayJones
JulieSchneider
RobTurner
ElizabethWaller
StacyWidelitz ADVISORS
Thisyear'sLaBellaNottechairs,SharonandToddSandahl,havecementedtheirpositionasfixturesinNashville’sphilanthropiccommunity LBN'23is theirlatestgalachairmanshiptobeaddedtoaveryimpressivelist Overtheyears,oneorbothhaveservedasCo-Chairforthe2016NashvilleBalletBall, ChairoftheRichland/WestEndNeighborhoodHomeTour,Co-ChairofBelmontMansion'sChristmasGalaeventsandDuelingCocktails,AuctionCoChair of the Nashville Symphony Unexpected Ball, Co-Chair of Cheekwood’s Swan Ball Swan Sale and Swan Song, and volunteered for Friends of VanderbiltChildren’sHospital.
BothgraduatesoftheUniversityofMississippi,theyputdownrootsinNashvilleeighteenyearsbackandlovelivingherealongwiththeirthreechildren William,theireldest,attendscollegeatElonUniversity,CharlesattendsMontgomeryBellAcademy,andFrancesattendsHarpethHall But,nomatter what,it’sEvatheGoldenDoodlewhorulesthehome
Professionally,Todd’slawpracticefocusesonmattersofdomesticrelations,criminaldefense,civilandcommerciallitigationandprobatematters.Sharonis apracticingcompoundingpharmacistand,since2012,shehasownedherownbusiness,HighCottonFloral YoucanbesurethattheflowersforLa Primaveraaregoingtobebreathtaking! ThecouplemaintainslicensureinbothTennesseeandMississippi,whereToddnevermindsanescapebackto OxfordduringOleMissfootballseason
SharonhasservedastheJudges'CoordinatorfortheMissMusicCityandMissCapitalCitypageantsformanyyears ShewasawardedtheMissTennessee (MissAmerica)Children'sMiracleNetworkVolunteeroftheYearawardin2014. AnactiveChiOmegaalumna,SharonhasservedasaRegionalAlumnae Director,NashvilleAlumnaeChapterPresident,andanadvisorfortheChiOmegaChapteratVanderbiltUniversity.ShewasrecognizedbytheNashville ChiOmegaNashvilleAlumnaeChapterastheirGreekWomanoftheYearin2005
We'resohappytohaveSharonandToddaspartoftheNashvilleOperafamilyandthankthemfortheirtremendoushelpinmakingLaBellaNotte2023an eveningtorememberformanyyearstocome
Hannah Marcoe, Nashville Opera's Education & EngagementManager,isthrilledwithhowquickly alloftheavailableperformanceslotsfor2023were
Overtheriverandthroughthewoods,tograndmother'shousewe go! Or, more accurately, to 100-plus schools, libraries, and museums in the span of the nine-week Nashville Opera Education Tour that kicks off on January 31. This recordsmashingsetofdatesmarksthefirsttimethetouriscompletely free of charge to all participating schools and features John Davies'LittleRed'sMostUnusualDay,theworkwhichwascut shortby2020'sabbreviatedtour. And,forthefirsttime,Opera onTouriscompletelyfreetoallschools!
StartingonJanuary31,thecast,comprisedofthe2023Mary Ragland Emerging Artists, hits the road for a nine-wee that spans Middle Tennessee from top to bottom and side. Alongtheway,thousandsofstudents,parents,teach andcommunitymemberswillhavethepleasureofexperi thisexuberantreframingoftheLittleRedRidingHood complete with Forest Ranger Dudley caring for his b woodsbysingingarousingadaptationofTheBarberof Seville's"Largoalfactotum."
filled "We're excited to be visiting so many of our previous OperaonTourpartnersandtoaddnewvenuestotheroutefor thisrecord-breakingtour,"Marcoeadded
InadditiontoLittleRed,OperaOutLoudwillbepartofthe 2023tour,providingaperfectprogramforolderstudentsand community venues If you flip to Page 14 of the magazine, you'll find a schedule of all public performances (Note: dependingonvenue,somedateswillincuranadmissioncharge, eveniftheperformanceitselfisfree)
Akiva School
Alex Green Eementary
Algood Elementary
Apollo Middle School
Austin Peay State University
Avery Trace Middle Schoo
Barksdale Elementary
Beech Elementary
Belmont University
Bethpage Elementary
Charlotte Elementary
Clyde Riggs Elementary
Cockrill Elementary
Cottage Cove Urban Ministries
Cowan Elementary
Cumberland Heights Elementary
Currey Ingram Academy
Ensworth School
Explore! Community School
Forks River Elementary
Gainesboro Elementary
Gateway Elementary
Gladeville Elementary
Granbery Elementary
Greenbrier Elementary
Hardng Academy
Harpeth Valley Eementary
Hendersonville High School
Henry C Maxwell Elementary
Immacuate Conception School
Isaac Litton Middle School
IT Creswell Middle School
JE Moss Elementary
Kenwood Elementary
Krisle Elementary
Lakeside Park Elementary
Linden Waldorf School
Lipscomb University
McFadden School of Excellence
McGavock Elementary
Montgomery Central High School
Moore Magnet Elementary
Murrell School
Napier Elementary
Norman Binkley Elementary
North Stewart Elementary
Northeast Eementary
Northfield Elementary
Park Avenue Elementary
Pine View Elementary
Pleasant View Elementary G
Portland Gateview Elementary
Reeves-Rogers Elementary
Rock Creek Elementary
Rose Park Middle School
Shwab Eementary
Sewanee Elementary
Southside Elementary
St Bernard Academy
St Matthew School
United Christian Academy
University of the South
Walnut Grove Elementary
Walton Ferry Elementary
West Elementary
Westmoreland Elementary
Westmeade Elementary
White Bluff Elementary
Winstead Elementary
White House Heritage Elementary
STEAM Expedition Schools
Alex Green Elementary
Amqui Eementary
Carter-Lawrence Elementary
Chadwell Elementary
Cockrll Eementary
Cumberland Elementary
Dodson Elementary
Dupont Elementary
Eagle View Elementary
Gateway Elementary
Gencliff Elementary
Hattie Cotton Elementary
Hermitage Elementary
Ida B Wels Elementary
Inglewood Elementary
Pennington Eementary
Rosebank Elementary
Tom Joy Elementary
Warner Elementary
Whitsitt Elementary
COMMUNITY VENUES
Adventure Science Center
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Grl Scouts of Middle TN
Hendersonvile Public Library
John P Holt Brentwood Library
NPL, Edmondson Pike Branch
NPL, North Branch
The Parthenon
Tennessee State Museum C
SAMUEL M. FLEMING FOUNDATION
MIDDLE TENNESSEE OPERA SUPPORT FUND
Voice: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Belmont, Massachusetts
Musical Studies: BM in Vocal Performance - Boston University; MM in Vocal Performance - University of Houston
Upcoming with Nashville Opera: Mrs Hood / Granny in Little Red's Most Unusual Day
Edith in The Pirates of Penzance
Fun Fact: Has a three-legged cat named Champion
Voice: Soprano
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Musical Studies: BA in Integrated Marketing Communications - Tennessee State University
Upcoming with Nashville Opera: Little Red in Little Red's Most Unusual Day
Kate in The Pirates of Penzance
Fun Fact: Speaks American Sign Language
Voice: Baritone
Hometown: Gilroy, California
Musical Studies: BM in Vocal Performance - San Jose State University; MM in Vocal Performance - Indiana University
Upcoming with Nashville Opera: Mr. Bigbad in Little Red's Most Unusual Day
Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance
Fun Fact: Grew up in “The Garlic Capitol of the World." ("Do I like garlic? Yes, I LOVE garlic!")
Since 1996, Nashville Opera has sent an education tour to Middle Tennessee schools and has sustained an emerging artists program. Named for Nashville Opera founder, Mary Cortner Ragland, the young artists serve as both the cast for Nashville Opera On Tour and will perform roles in the spring mainstage production of The Pirates of Penzance!
Voice: Tenor
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Musical Studies: BM in Vocal Performance - UCLA; MM in Vocal Performance - New England Conservatory
Upcoming with Nashville Opera: Forest Ranger Dudley in Little Red's Most Unusual Day Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance
Fun Fact: Has been singing opera since he was 10 years old.
If you ' ve ever attended a meeting in the Noah Liff Opera Center's Frist Board Room, you ' ve no doubt noticed the framed painting at the head of the room of Mary Cortner Ragland, who tirelessly devoted herself to establishing Nashville Opera and its Emerging Artists Program
Almost single-handedly, Mary Ragland brought opera to our community through her extraordinary efforts as founder and first president of Nashville Opera Association With degrees from the Newcomb and Juilliard Schools of Music, a professional career as a soprano, and membership on both the Board and National Council of the Metropolitan Opera, Mary’s dream is being realized as the Nashville Opera is one of the fastest growing opera companies in the United States
Mary, who died in 1999, left a bequest from her estate to ensure the future of the Mary Ragland Emerging Artists Program, now in its 22nd year To date, more than 100 upcoming artists have been provided with performance and audition opportunities
Launched in 2020, Nashville Opera’s HBCU Fellowship Program works with longtime partner Tennessee State University along with Fisk University to present masterclasses and roundtables intended to provide access, promote inclusion, and expand career pathways for developing African-American artists. Nashville Opera received an Art Works award from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as an Innovation Grant from Opera America and the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation to support this enhanced partnership.
Nashville Opera Fellows from TSU and Fisk coach with some of the most respected Black artists in the United States. Patrick Dailey and Gwendolyn Brown serve as project managers for the program and work Nashville Opera's Hannah Marcoe to ensure an amazing experience for all of the students.
Fisk University, Class of 2023
Major: Music (Voice concentration)
Voice: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Jackson, Tennessee
Fisk University, Class of 2023
Major: Music Education
Voice: Soprano
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Tennessee State University, Class of 2024
Major: Business Marketing
Voice: Soprano
Hometown: Cordova, Tennessee
Tennessee State University, Class of 2022
Major: Commercial Voice
Voice: Soprano
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Tennessee State University, Class of 2023
Major: Liberal Arts
Voice: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Madison, Tennessee
PROGRAM
GWENDOLYN BROWN
Assistant Professor of Music and Voice, Fisk University
PATRICK DAILEY
Adjunct Professor of Voice, Tennessee State University
HANNAH MARCOE
Education & Engagement Manager
Nashville Opera
If you think art is only for your walls, it's time to reframe your perspective!
Whether you ' re driving to the Noah Liff Opera Center, TPAC, or Belmont University's Fisher Center, you have the chance to show your support for Nashville Opera with a beautiful selection of Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) specialty license plates
TAC provides funds to Nashville Opera and a great many other arts companies, museums, and institutions across the state Your purchase of an Arts License Plate ensures that every Tennessean gains access the performing, visual, and musical arts wherever they live
For more details, visit nashvilleopera org/donate
SAT, JAN 7 METROPOLITAN OPERA
LAFFONT COMPETITION
11 AM, Natalie L Haslam Music Center University of Tennessee Knoxville
FRI, JAN 20
STUCK ELEVATOR
8 PM, Noah Liff Opera Center
SAT, JAN 21 STUCK ELEVATOR
8 PM, Noah Liff Opera Center
SUN, JAN 22 STUCK ELEVATOR
3 PM, Noah Liff Opera Center
SAT, JAN 28 LA BELLA NOTTE PATRON PARTY
Hosted by Friends of Nashville Opera
6 PM, at the home of Cynthia and Elliott Himmelfarb
RSVP at LaBellaNotte org
MON, JAN 30 SNEAK PREVIEW
LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
3:30 PM, Noah Liff Opera Center
SAT, FEB 4 LA BELLA NOTTE
Hosted by Friends of Nashville Opera
6:30 PM, Grand Hyatt Nashville
RSVP at LaBellaNotte org
SAT, FEB 18
LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
10:30 AM, Nashville Public Library, Edmonson Pike Branch
SAT, FEB 18
OPERA OUT LOUD
2:00 PM, The Parthenon
*Free performance with admission
SAT, MAR 4 LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
10:00 AM, Williamson County Public Library, Main Branch
SAT, MAR 4 LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
2:00 PM, Adventure Science Center
*Free performance with admission
**SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE
SAT, MAR 11 LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
2:00 PM, The John P Holt Brentwood Library
TUE, MAR 14 HELEN BROWN MEMORIAL MASTERCLASS with JASON
FERRANTE
2:00 PM, Noah Liff Opera Center
SAT, MAR 18
LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
11:00 AM, Nashville Public Library North Branch
SAT, MAR 18 LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
3:00 PM, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
*Free performance with admission
TUE, MAR 21 OPERA OUT LOUD
4:00 PM, The University of the South
SAT, MAR 25
LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
10:30 AM, Hendersonville Public Library
SAT, MAR 25 LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY
2:00 PM, Tennessee State Musuem
Just like many of my colleagues, the path in this career has not been the straightest nor the smoothest. Most of us in this profession learn how to eat No’s for breakfast, and we learn how to keep going in the face of hardship without letting it define us as artists and people. For me the idea of singing bravely is simply continuing to sing throughout it all. The belief that what I have to share as an artist is of value, and letting that belief keep me going through the highs and lows of being a freelance opera singer has been key
I consider myself a storyteller and a lover of music. It has taken me some time to understand that I am much more than just an artist. I am first and foremost a human being, and there is so much more to me than what I love to do. This has been liberating, and it has given me the boldness to not give up, to be a fearless storyteller, and to actually enjoy the ride.
We never know how much time we have with this beautiful gift of music. The bravest thing I can do is to enjoy every second of it.
STUCK ELEVATOR
Noah Liff Opera Center
January 20-22
LA BELLA NOTTE
Grand Hyatt Nashville
February 4
LBN ONLINE AUCTION
Starting January 26
LaBellaNotte.org
