Surprise! Welcome to the Opera Innovation | No. 1 playlist + liner notes.
Since we’re still about opera and the classically trained voice, we thought we’d highlight artists who’ve been on the blog or our social media channels since we launched in late Spring 2020. Some people here are friends I’ve known for a while, others I’ve only met online, and some who are sadly no longer with us but live on through their one-of-a-kind work. We also include some classics already featured on our Instagram and the blog. Ultimately, the purpose of these liner notes is to provide background on why each piece is represented, and if applicable, linking to current Opera Innovation content and artists represented.
CLICK IMAGE TO HEAR THE OPERA INNOVATION | NO. 1 PLAYLIST
There will succeeding playlists, too, so the fun is just beginning. Once you’ve listened, you’ll find that this is definitely not your typical opera playlist. Enjoy!
“Ave Maria” by Marnie Breckenridge
We met and befriended Marnie Breckenridge when we became supporters of Opera Parallele’s world premiere opera Today it Rains. In the ensuing two years, Marnie’s been productivity plus, notably with San Francisco Symphony’s SoundBox and Toronto’s Tapestry Opera, where she world premiered Jacqueline with cellist Matt Haimovitz, winning a 2020 DORA Award for Best Individual Performance. And then the pandemic hit. However, we were delighted that Marnie went ahead with plans to record new music, her Happy Golden Days EP and two (2) singles released just in time for the holidays (and on repeat at our house).
We love how Marnie paired her powerful voice with Grammy Award-winning Bluegrass Guitarist Tim Stafford for this Ave Maria. Stay tuned for more releases in 2021.
“The Reporters” from Thumbprint by Kamala Sankaram
We’ve not yet met Ms. Sankaram, although she’s a part of our recent American Lyric Theatre expert Diversity Q&A panel series on Facebook, as well as that company’s ongoing CLDP Opera Writers Symposium. But I first encountered her when she began working with Opera Innovation contributor Mark Campbell on West Edge Opera’s new opera incubator Aperture. We wanted to get a sense of her work as a composer, and we thought this opening piece from her and Susan Yankowitz’s 2014 “opera / theatre work” Thumbprint was a good introduction - Thumbprint is inspired by the experiences of Mukhtar Mai, the first female victim of gang rape to bring her male attackers to justice in Pakistan.
The ability to capture an audience’s attention at the beginning of an opera - think Salome - and then exponentially build excitement are the reasons The Reporters resonated for us. Boom!
“Thanks for Coming” from The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs by Mason Bates, Mark Campbell, Edward Parks
While I was still vibrating after seeing the world premiere of this opera in Santa Fe in 2017, long before Mason Bates and Mark Campbell won the 2019 Best Opera Recording Grammy for it, I found Mr. Campbell so that I could tell him that it should play Broadway - a crossover, operatic hybrid backed my Mr. Bates’ electronic beats and sounds. He agreed without any hesitation. In so many ways, this piece defines what operatic innovation looks and sounds like and I’ll never forget the thrill of experiencing its launch and Edward Parks’ 1000 % believable Steve Jobs. It’s also an opportunity to shout out great friends Kristen Choi, Adelaide Boebecker and Jessica E. Jones, who are also cited on this Grammy-winning recording.
There are many new operas, but (R)evolution will continue to be part of “the rep” since its represents everything new, possible, daring, responsive and innovative that can happen in opera. A case study to be modeled!
“Lightning Strikes” by Klaus Nomi
Our appreciation and deep respect for Klaus Nomi is somewhat recent. Having heard this former Deutsche Oper usher, countertenor and underground artist’s name referenced in passing at various times over the years, I didn’t investigate further until late last year, discovering what a landmark artist he was, sadly dying of AIDS at just 39 years old and the apex of his performance career.
Everyone needs to hear Nomi’s countertenor applied to his delightful cover of Lou Christie's 1960’s hit Lightning Strikes. A “secret” project forthcoming!
“I Wish I Loved Someone” by Mr. Max with Joanna Ceja
Mr. Max is an LA-based surf punk rock band with a growing Southern California fanbase, but we came to know about them and band founder Max Cohen through friend, classically-trained vocalist and actress Joanna Ceja, who sings back up on several Mr. Max singles. Platonic collaborators, both have managed to continuing working in music during the pandemic; we remain in support of their new projects, together and separate. And yes, that’s Joanna in gorilla head drag, but more on her operatic roots found here. Max is featured in this Voyage LA Magazine profile from January 2021.
We admire this melding of musical and vocal styles, which originated out of a chance Uber meeting. These are cool, kind entrepreneurial creatives who make their respective art forms great.
“Lakmé and Mallika” by Emily M Cheung
At the end of 2020, as the holidays, election and pandemic horror were all upon us, we were heartened by a returning holiday-season Volvo commercial from 2018. In it, soprano Emily M Cheung performs a version of “Der Holle Rach,” a piece advertisers seem to love regardless of it being a homicidal aria called as "The Vengence of Hell" from Mozart's The Magic Flute. We shared it on Instagram and Facebook, where it went a bit viral, undoubtedly spreading the Opera Innovation word (our sincere thanks). When putting this playlist together, we were glad to find this single from Ms. Cheung, which includes a version of “Lakmé,” one of my favorite arias-as-advertising for British Airways, the airline’s go-to sound branding for decades.
We love the arrangement of “Lakmé-Mallika” - contemporary music that just so happens to showcase a classically-trained voice. Emily’s found her sound and style, is this the future of contemporary music, full stop?
“Le Voyageur, Op. 18 No. 2” by Gabriel Fauré, Brian Asawa, Sir Neville Marriner
There will never be another Brian Asawa. We happened to meet Mr. Asawa when he was quite literally the moment, kicking in doors for countertenors in the early 1990s. We were also fortunate enough to work with him during the last few years of his life on social media, content and brand strategy briefs. But it was more than the work. Brian was our OG opera innovator who not only freely shared the opera singer experience, but also the art of singing. We are forever grateful for these things, his friendship, his artistry and beautiful gift to opera and music history.
More to come on this remarkable man and how he changed opera.
“Biblical Songs, Op.99: II Lord Thou Art My Refuge” by Antonín Dvorák, Elyse Anne Kakacek & Ryan Johnson
Sometimes things just happen. We’d just launched Opera Innovation and it was either through the algorithm or stories, but we came across Frisson Films and founders Elyse A. Kakacek and Ryan Rivard, which led to their writing one of the first OI blogs (we’re forever grateful). Fast forward to August and the release of Elyse’s Formless album featuring the Biblical songs of Dvorák. We listen at least once a week to this beautiful album by Elyse and Pianist Ryan Johnson.
Formless should be listened to as an album, so start with this first movement. It remains our centering, work music staple, brimming with hope, joy and peace- things we all need more of these days.
“Preach Sister, Preach: No. 1, Simone de Beauvoir; No. 2, Mae West; No. 3 Gilda Radner” by Evan Mack, Megan Marino, John Arida
We first had the pleasure of meeting and befriending mezzo Megan Marino at Santa Fe Opera in 2015. Megan’s progress thought the business of opera has been a bit of a bellwether for us - an extremely talented artist with a no-nonsense approach to her work, tempered by equal parts compassion and empathy. Just last weekend, she dropped The Travelled Road, a new album with Composer Evan Mack, Pianist John Arida and Cellist Jameson Platte. We had no prior notice about this new music, but it arrived right on time for this playlist!
We love this album and actually wanted more when the three song cycles and stand-alone pieces had ended. It should be listened to as a whole album. This thought found on composer Evan Mack’s Twitter account: “If you’ve been feeling numb to the world, Evan Mack’s music, combined with the powerful words of others, may be the antidote.” - Kristina Driskill
“Are You Good?” by Aurelia’s Voice
“Classically rooted and refreshingly creative,” per David MacKay, Auralia’s Voice is the songwriting moniker for Flint MI-based classical singer Tiffany Thorpe. We “met” last week when she followed Opera Innovation on Twitter, so we decided to investigate the new EP she was promoting - a good decision. We followed her back, asking if I could share Are You Good? since this was our first meeting. Fortunately, she agreed. From her Spotify account, words again from Mr. MacKay: “Aurelia’s Voice floats in dreamy tones on a sea of complex emotions. Her music is evocative--drawing the listener to the sensations of pain, regret, frustration, and ultimately hope. Hope in oneself for the future. Hope in who we all can become when we realize the strength that dwells within.”
A cohesive 5-song EP powered by classical voice. Are You Good? speaks to our now beautifully. Go!
“Thinking Out Loud” by Damon K. Clark
Damon K. Clark began following us on Instagram and has been greatly supportive of what we’re doing there and on the blog (our sincerest thanks). Damon has been a professional vocalist for over 20 years, performing and touring globally. He began his career as an opera singer and later ventured into folk, rock, neo-soul, and jazz. He also has a vocal studio in Dallas, where he’s based, which has pivoted online due to the pandemic. It was wonderful to find his cover version of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” which has become our preferred version!
Come for Damon’s classically-trained voice, stay for his storytelling and beautifully arranged musical pieces. We understand there may be some opera coming, please look for it on future playlists.
Carmen, WD 31 | Act 1: “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Habanera) by Georges Bizet, Elīna Garanča, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Della RAI, Karel Mark Chichon, Coro Filarmonico del Regio di Torino
No, we don’t know Ms. Garanča, but we added this piece because:
Briana K. Hunter apparently just killed it as Carmen at Opera Orlando, singing in front of audiences for the first time in a year - BRAVA!
We will always love how luxury brand CDLP featured it in their men’s underwear commercial, filmed at The Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como.
The aforementioned Megan Marino will make her role debut as Carmen in The Atlanta Opera’s “The Threepenny Carmen” later this month. Brava, Megan!
La Wally | “Ebben? No andrò Iontana” by Alfredo Catalani, Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Vladimir Cosma and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
We featured a clip from “DIVA,” one of our favorite films, on Instagram last year because it marked the first time opera moved us as, a 12 year old kid watching this French film on PBS.
Norma | “Casta Diva” by Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Orchestre du théâtre national de l’opéra, Georges Sébastien, Choeur du théâtre national de l’opéra
We thought this 1958 recording of La Divina was appropriate to denote Jean Paul Gaultier’s use of “Casta Diva” in his recent Le Mâle fragrance “Welcome On Board” campaign, which we featured via Instagram Reels. Although our only live experience of this iconic piece is with the wonderful Sonya Radvanovsky, there doesn’t seem to be a publicly available recording of her singing it (but if anyone knows where to stream one, please let us know).
STAY TUNED FOR NO.2 THIS SUMMER!