On Site Opera to Premiere First Opera by Mail Experience

By David Salazar

On Site Opera has announced a new program for its fall 2020 season.

After a successful summer season with 200 sold-out performances of its live telephone opera, the company is headed to the mail for “The Beauty That Still Remains: Diaries in Song.”

The first opera by mail experience is inspired by Anne Frank, Virginia Woolf, and private stream of consciousness texts through three different song cycles including ‘The Diary of the One Who Vanished,” “From the Diary of Virginia Woolf,” and “A World Turned Upside Down.”

Per a press release, all performances come with an audio experience, a keepsake diary of texts, scholarly articles, translations and librettos, virtual panel discussions, and more.

“The Diary of One of Who Disappeared,” by Janacek, will arrive in the mail as soon as Nov. 16. Shipping for Argento’s “From the Diary of Virginia Woolf” is set for Nov. 30 while Juliana Hall’s “A World Turned Upside Down” will be mailed out by Dec. 14, 2020.

The cycles will be performed by such artists as tenor Bernard Holcomb, mezzo-soprano Vanessa Cariddi, soprano Cristina Maria Castro, and pianist Howard Watkins.

“Performing arts organizations have two options right now—continue to create and keep moving forward, or risk closing their doors permanently,” said Eric Einhorn, the company’s General and Artistic Director in a press release. “Since words and music are two of our most universal communicators, merging them together in this unique remote experience celebrates those who have documented their own challenges throughout history in a deeply personal way while continuing to cultivate touchpoints for art, humanity and inspiration. While opera has never been delivered by mail in this way before, there is no better way to experience the authentic emotions of our three protagonists than with a replica of their text in a diary and an intimate recorded experience available to audiences everywhere.”

 

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