Hang on, Vermont, live opera is coming! And may be closer than you think.
Joshua Collier, Artistic Director of BARN OPERA, has not only a dream but a plan, and neither is small. “. . . [W]e are hoping to provide ‘all of opera, for all of Vermont.’ Our ambition is to, within a short time frame, facilitate a live operatic performance within 30 minutes from every Vermonter, with multiple educational opportunities, and cultural enriching experiences throughout the year.” (We in the Upper Valley know that geographically speaking, that could also benefit Vermont-adjacent New Hampshire dwellers.)
In 2017, BARN OPERA was established by Collier, a noted tenor and once selected as one of VPR’s 40 Artists under 40. True to its name, BARN OPERA has offered opera performances in a refurbished, acoustically refined barn in Brandon, Vermont. Yesterday, Collier announced “the next iteration”of BARN OPERA: “Opera Vermont.”
“After many years of productions, and countless instances of feedback concerning the geographical limitations of the BARN, the leadership of BARN OPERA decided to expand the reach of the acclaimed productions of BARN OPERA to the statewide audience.”
As a first step, BARN OPERA is partnering with two additional venues, Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, and the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, each of which will stage a live opera during the upcoming 2024 BARN OPERA/Opera Vermont season. Not only will this provide greater geographic accessibility to opera for people in the northern and southern areas of the state, it will free up space at BARN OPERA’s Brandon location for other musical and community events.
But wait, you may say, aren’t both of these about a 90-minute or so drive from the UV? Is there anything closer? Collier says they are actively seeking additional partner venues, hence the stated goal of the 30-minute commute between home and live opera for all Vermonters within the next 3 years.
To announce this expansion, and to introduce the Opera Vermont/BARN OPERA ethos and artistic team to the Greensboro and Manchester audiences, Opera Vermont will be producing a pastiche concert of opera and musical theatre, with a meet and greet with the artists immediately following the concerts.
These events are scheduled for September 14, 2023 at the Highland Arts Center, and September 15, 2023 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Tickets are available here.
Following the meet-and-greets, the inaugural 2024 season of BARN OPERA/Opera Vermont will continue with the production of Tosca at the Highland Center for the Arts on February 16 and 17, 2024. In May, the Southern Vermont Arts Center will host Rigoletto. BARN OPERA in Brandon will feature a black tie event in September to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death with selected arias from his works, and will close out the season in November with Truman and Nancy. Details about the upcoming inaugural season and availability of tickets can be found here.
(Photos courtesy of Joshua Collier, BARN OPERA)
———————————————————
And . . . now we’ve just surged past 2400 subscribers! Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe and then share this with your friends and on your social media.
And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.