Reflections an Opera Lafayette Newsletter “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” So began Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities, his novel about the French Revolution, and so we might describe the events of the past year. For Opera Lafayette it began as a celebration of our 25th anniversary, full of enthusiasm and flush with the success of Blow’s Venus and Adonis and then Beethoven’s Leonore, our own opera emanating from the French Revolution. But the disappointments, cruelty, and sorrow which followed the initial excitement of that historical event have overtaken our own year and world as well. Nonetheless, we see rays of hope. Just as Dickens published his novels in installments, we released our film of Beethoven’s great opera similarly, but online, accompanied by intimate online discussions which probed the musical and theatrical inner workings and inspiring narrative of this masterpiece. Though we had to postpone Le Maréchal ferrant (The Blacksmith), we are finding ways to engage with the opera and our artists online, creating a new community of friends as we update this 18th-century French opéra comique to the early American West. Dickens told extraordinary tales about ordinary people, showing us the humanity of people from a different era and different walks of life. The Blacksmith has our artists take on the characters of ordinary folks in recognizable situations as well – a clever and hardworking father, his independent daughter, her unfortunate lover, a wary outsider, a flirtatious widower, and a conniving sister. These characters set up a comedy first written in plague-infested Florence in the 14th century which we will tour in rural and urban areas suffering from the coronavirus in the 21st. I am writing now from southwestern Colorado, where we have been planning a rural residency with The Blacksmith, not yet knowing whether it will take place in a local opera house or in front of a barn outdoors. Recently I took two photos which capture a couple of hopeful images. The orange poppies at sunset remind me of nature’s visible beauty even amidst its invisible dangers (and perhaps the Met’s set for the dream sequence in its production of Prince Igor!) The young cowboys working the cattle in the dust at twilight in front of the old barn and blacksmith’s shop (a future stage set?) remind me that doing what one does best can be a gritty job, but worthwhile when we cooperate and calmly persevere. Wishing you the very best and hoping to see you online and in person again soon, Thank you for your support. Ryan
WHAT IS REFLECTIONS? • A peek behind the curtain at Opera Lafayette • A glimpse of the projects and people that make Opera Lafayette as successful as it is • A place for new and noteworthy donor news • A celebration of our supporters Ryan Brown, Artistic Director