New Camerata Opera’s Black & White Gala Showcases’ Company’s Vibrant Present & Future

By David Salazar

The New Camerata Opera is special. 

There are a ton of opera companies in the New York City, all doing wonderful things in their own right. But there is just something special about the way that New Camerata Opera is interpreting its role as an opera company. 

This was on full display during the company’s Black and White Gala on Friday, September 21, 2018. 

Taking place at the University Settlement on the East Side, the gala was ultimately a rather intimate affair. A series of tables dominated the center of the hall with tables lining the sides; there was food and drinks as well as a few tables for the company’s auction of some fabulous prizes that included tickets and backstage tour to “Dear Evan Hansen (it ultimately sold for $450)” as well as other prizes donated by the likes of City Winery, the Bronx Zoo, WQXR, 305 Fitness, and Vineyard Vines, among others.

The company is just entering its third season, but the presentation to follow would have made anyone feel that it was far longer; that’s how much this company has already accomplished. 

Things kicked off with a video, “Memories,” which is part of the company’s Camerataworks, an in-house film studio dedicated to making opera films or videos incorporating opera, old and new, in a unique manner. 

“There are few things more expensive than producing an opera,” stated Erik Bagger, one of the performers and presenters on the evening. “And that’s opera film.” 

Camerataworks has been producing short films for some time, its main focus on “The Charles Ives” project, which showcases tells stories through the art song of the famed composer. The company is also slated to continue its “The Prince von Pappenschmear” series this season; this video project is opera specifically made with the audiovisual medium in mind. THe music is composed by Peter Englebert with libretto by Adam Laten. 

After the short video, the company set about giving its guests some of opera’s greatest hits. Among the performers were Julia Tang, Barbara Porto, Erik Bagger, Vicor Khodadad, Lily Arbisser, Scott Lindroth, Eva Par, and Nicole Leone. 

Major vocal highlights were undoubtedly Lacy and Lindroth both singing “Largo al factotum” from “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” in what one might call the “dueling Figaros.” There was also a potent performance of the final duet from “Carmen” between Bagger and Parr as well as the company’s own “Rumpelstiltskin,” which features an all-new libretto with music from Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.”

This latter selection is part of the company’s ongoing Camerata Piccola initiative in which the company goes to underserved schools and local libraries to put on performances for children. The initiative, founded by Khodadad, has already put on such new operas as “Peter Rabbit” and “Party at the Opera;” “Rumplestiltskin” will be the third such endeavor. 

The program came to a close with the announcement of the auction winners, but the truth is that anyone in attendance walked away feeling a winner. It’s been just three years, but New Camerata Opera is already making major change in the opera community.

The company’s mainstage showcases this season will feature performances of “Venus and Adonis” which will be directed by Jennifer Williams with musical direction by Stephan Fillare. Performances are slated for Nov, 29, Dec. 1 and 2. Then the company will take on Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia” in the spring in a production directed by Brittany Goodwin and musical direction by Justin Bischof. Those performances are slated for May 2, 4, and 5. 

Categories

IndieOperaSpecial Features