Departure is a musical journey that gives a departure from the traditional repertoire on stage on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home and a departure for our 2023-24 Artists in Residence. Delight on this expertly crafted program that includes items you already know, and others you’ll uncover on this exploration of opera, artwork track, musical theatre, and extra.
Followers of our annual American Tune program, which debuted ten years in the past, will love this subsequent iteration. The primary half of this system options the one-act opera The Companion by Robert Paterson. The second half of this system will discover relationships via items by composers together with Alan Menken, Cole Porter, and Stephen Sondheim.
Earlier than you see the dwell efficiency, hear from the Director, Cherity Koepke, in a Q&A about how Departure got here to be and get a glimpse into probably the most thrilling moments of this system!
Get tickets for Departure right here>>
American Tune has advanced into Departure. How did this transition come about?
Picture: Opera Colorado/Jamie Kraus
We used to have two separate occasions: American Tune, which centered on works by solely American composers, and an end-of-year celebration for the season’s Artists in Residence. After some consideration, the Ellie Caulkins Common & Creative Director, Greg Carpenter, and I wished to do one thing extra substantial for the Artists’ in Residence remaining efficiency. This yr marks the tenth anniversary of American Tune, so we knew we have been at a pivotal level. American Tune has at all times been a program that was designed to progress, to develop and alter, whereas connecting our audiences to new repertoire. To proceed that spirit of progress, we knew it was time to embrace one other imaginative and prescient of this system to maintain it vibrant. We appreciated this concept of a “departure from the norm,” and wished to develop on it.
What’s Departure and what makes it particular?
Annually, Departure could have full scenes from an opera, or a one-act opera mixed with complimentary particular person items. Like American Tune, Departure will proceed to deal with repertoire sung in English. Nonetheless, we’re now not limiting ourselves to American composers so we will discover extra numerous repertoire. When creating this system, I attain out to composers and decide their brains on their work to know precisely what they supposed. This chance is uncommon in opera since so many composers of traditional repertoire have lengthy handed. Departure will characteristic items that won’t have been carried out earlier than. The composers are so excited once I inform them Opera Colorado is performing their work.
As an organization, we’ve a duty to maintain this artwork kind alive and showcase items by new composers. The operas we placed on on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home are unbelievable, and we do have alternatives to premiere works or create new productions on the mainstage. Departure is an extra method of presenting opera to maintain individuals curious and engaged.
What’s the theme this yr?
This yr’s theme is relationships and far of the repertoire will take you thru the levels of being concerned with one other individual. There are numerous levels in a relationship to discover: discovering new love, making a dedication, dealing with challenges, and discovering the impacts that these relationships have by yourself life.
The thought started with a need to do one thing extra comedic. Opera Colorado stuffed the 2023-24 Season with dramatic tales, so we wished to offer our audiences one thing lighter. Greg Carpenter instructed a GRAMMY-award-winning trio of one-act operas referred to as Three Means by Robert Paterson, and from there, I selected The Companion. This one-act opera is a darkish, satirical tackle how relationships may evolve with the affect of know-how. The story includes a love triangle between a girl, a robotic, and the technician who comes to repair the robotic. I had by no means heard something prefer it. As soon as I chosen The Companion, I selected particular person items so as to add to this system to enhance it.
Within the programming, I wish to spotlight a number of items which have been forgotten and items that almost all audiences don’t know. There was a musical from 1989 referred to as Nearer Than Ever which has largely been left within the final century. Nonetheless, I assure audiences will establish with the piece we’re performing referred to as “Fandango” and have it caught of their heads. I’m additionally very excited to characteristic a lesser-known work of a widely known composer, Claude-Michel Schonberg, the composer of the worldwide sensation Les Miserables. The piece I chosen for Departure, an excerpt from his musical revue titled Personals, is hilariously humorous. As this piece will not be carried out in america, we’ve an opportunity to carry it to our viewers and present them a unique aspect of this famend composer.
What’s going to Departure sound like?
Departure will sound fashionable with flairs of the classics. Many consider fashionable opera as jarring, nevertheless it incorporates extra acquainted parts from musical theater. In The Companion, you’ll find the most effective of each worlds. Some items will really feel very fashionable and others are extra conventional arias with beautiful composition.
By way of one of these intimate efficiency expertise, the viewers will join firstly with the textual content and the feelings of the story. The viewers is a part of the expertise and the artwork when it comes to the vitality they offer the artists. I’m most excited to create this night of comedic programming. Shared laughter is an unbelievable present and enhances the efficiency for everybody.
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Departure is a superb method to expertise opera like by no means earlier than and witness the expansion of the Artists in Residence over the previous season. The director chooses these items particularly for the Artists after a whole season of studying about their voices. It should really be a efficiency for the ages!
Be a part of us on Might 30 on the Studio Loft on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home for Departure. Get tickets right here>>
