Santa Fe Opera illustration; renderings by Wilberth Gonzalez | The Santa Fe New Mexican, April 8, 2016
(Santa Fe, NM) - We’re coming into our seventh month of an out of control American pandemic. When the reality of COVID-19 became clear in March, one of the very first things that came to mind was composer Joe Illick’s and liberettist Andrea Fellows Fineberg’s opera UnShakeable; I had the opportunity to see its 2019 production at SITE Santa Fe. The global pandemic in Illick and Fellows-Fineberg’s opera is different, but just as devastating; “Erasure” leaves an indelible mark, robbing human beings of their memories, identities and shared experiences. The same is true for COVID-19, but with the added possibility of death. In both cases, human history is impacted, altered, redirected.
To say I’m “thrilled” that the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe is screening UnShakeable as part of its pay-per-view “Living Room Series” tonight isn’t exactly right. “Grateful” is a better word, but hold that thought. From The Santa Fe Opera’s press release:
“Set in an abandoned theater in New Mexico 25 years in the future, UnShakeable is the story of Wyatt and Meridian, Shakespearean actors and former lovers who have varying degrees of memory loss due to Erasure, a viral pandemic resulting in memory loss. Separated from Meridian at the start of the viral pandemic, Wyatt has been searching for his love ever since. Exploring themes of memory, connection, and the power of story, UnShakeable incorporates language from some of Shakespeare’s iconic works to create a modern romance.”
In 2019, when I saw UnShakeable with good friends soprano Adelaide Boedecker and baritone Calvin Griffith singing the roles of Meridian and Wyatt, I was blown away its simplicity, complexity, music and story. All elements came together for this operagoer. Now, many months into the pandemic, the recollection of watching Addie and Calvin bring the piece’s themes to life makes the real-time weight of COVID-19 all too palpable.
Erasure.
Without fanfare.
Erasure
The game is up.
All that mattered,
Memory shattered.
All of the people I knew
Have vanished from my mind,
Vanished into thin air.
Who were my father and my mother? Did I have a sister or a brother?
All of my memory has faded away
And left no trace behind.
Did I have friends?
Was I ever in love?
Given ongoing coronavirus disease, death and resurgence, as well as the en masse loss of personal histories, experiences and interactions, our 2020 version of Erasure seems to have arrived. Adding in socially-distant everything and a sometimes overwhelming fear of others, shorter, impactful operas like UnShakeable may help us collectively heal - or provide temporary, necessary respite - from the endless emergency. But I also try to remember that when I departed my 2019 UnShakeable experience, I did so with an overwhelming sense of hope and joy.
When I shared the development of this blog with Kathleen Clawson, UnShakeable’s Dramaturg and Stage Director, she wrote to share that the experience “remains one of my proudest artistic achievements and the happiest of collaborations.” UnShakeable’s Librettist Andrea Fellows Fineberg went to the heart of the piece. “When contemplating writing an opera in commemoration, you are in the domain of memory. Add that it is Shakespeare and the opera could become many things. What it became, though, is a love story.”
I’m beyond thankful that Ms. Fellows Fineberg sent me the UnShakeable libretto this week. I’d forgotten some of the most pivotal words and powerful moments she’d created, which echo something I’ve been doing since pandemic began. Every clear evening, I step outside to look up at the New Mexico stars, wishing for something good to come out of this, usually finding some hope before I go to sleep. Lately, I’ve started doing this while listening to a fave pop song on repeat, now my pandemic mediation.
“‘Cause love is love, it never ends. Can we all be as one again?”
So, yes. Love. Once you’ve seen UnShakeable, let’s follow Wyatt and Meridian’s good example, connecting as one through our personal “wishing stars.” They matter and they work. - JM
Opera Innovation asked several individuals involved with UnShakeable and this screening for their thoughts.
Jason Silverman, Cinematheque Director
Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe
Why is this screening of “UnShakeable” especially important right now? Please also expand on the critical role CCA Santa Fe plays in the community.
“A functioning society depends on humans connecting with each other. That’s true in good times and bad. I believe cultural institutions in this difficult moment, as always, must continue to find innovative ways to bring us together, across boundaries, in ways that give us hope and energy. We’ll need that hope and that energy as we confront the enormous challenges we must face. The CCA and The Santa Fe Opera are just two of many cultural organizations that are finding new methods of connecting us. The work being done is, to me, essential, as artists and other deep thinkers hold many clues to solving our problems.”
“The UnShakeable event is the 41st event in the CCA’s Living Room, and our second collaboration with Santa Fe Opera, and through these programs we’ve been able to create, I think, a new virtual gathering space where important ideas, expressed by passionate and committed artists, educators, activists and others, can be shared.”
Could you speak to CCA Santa Fe’s mission, vision and history of collaboration with The Santa Fe Opera?
“The CCA and The Santa Fe Opera have been collaborating for most of my 16 years at the CCA, and these collaborations remain a highlight for the CCA family. Andrea Fellows Fineberg and The Santa Fe Opera team are visionary and generous, and they are brilliant at executing programs that move audiences. Together, we’ve produced shows with live music, deep and meaningful panel discussions, family programs, strange opera films from around the planet … and we even celebrated Igor Stravinsky’s birthday with a giant cake!”
Jacquelyn Stucker, Soprano | Intermusica Artists
“I am so honored to have created the role of Meridian, and I look back on the premiere and revival with fondness and nostalgia. Memory diseases run on both sides of my family, and my experiences with an aunt, and uncle, and multiple grandparents with either Alzheimers or FTD made my involvement in this project deeply meaningful for me on a personal level. The Santa Fe Opera’s strong track record when it comes to producing new American works is unparalleled, and I love that they’ve combined their hallmark artistic integrity with the realities of memory disease, an important and complicated aspect of modern life.” - Jacquelyn Stucker, Soprano
Soprano Jacquelyn Stucker as Meridian in UnShakeable (2016) | Ms. Stucker represented by Intermusica. Photo: CCA Santa Fe
Jarrett Ott, Baritone | IMG Artists
“Illick and Fellows Fineberg’s work holds a deep place in my heart. Years later, I find myself still humming or singing parts of Unshakeable. It triggers the emotions of dealing with the current circumstances we’re facing, but also provides hope that as a community we can find each other again. We need to keep searching diligently for our own new realities and creative selves. Hopefully our post-pandemic reality can be half as beautiful as Meridian and Wyatt’s.” - Jarrett Ott, Baritone
Baritone Jarrett Ott as Wyatt in UnShakeable (2016) | Mr. Ott is represented by IMG Artists
Soprano Adelaide Boedecker | Stratagem Artists
Bass Calvin Griffin | ADA Artist Management
“UnShakeable is near to my heart, because I was able to work with Joe (Illick) while it was being workshopped. It was such an honor and a thrill! As a result, it had even more of an impact on me, especially when Santa Fe (Opera) asked my husband Calvin Griffin and me to perform Joe and Andrea’s piece for the Spring 2019 tour. Being able to delve into a work that explores memory loss with a significant other was powerful, to say the least. Now, as we’re separated from loved ones due to COVID-19, we can identify with the loneliness that Wyatt and Meridian must’ve felt. What a poignant and beautiful story, showing us how love and music truly are essential in helping humanity heal and connect.” - Adelaide Boedecker, Soprano
Bass-Baritone Calvin Griffin (Wyatt) and Soprano Adelaide Boedecker (Meridian) in UnShakeable (2019)
WATCH UnShakeable
with Jacquelyn Stucker and Jarrett Ott
TONIGHT ONLY | FRI 28AUG via CCASantaFe.org
WHAT: Online screening of UnShakeable and a panel discussion with notable New Mexico poets presented by the Santa Fe Opera, Fort Worth Opera and Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
WHEN: TONIGHT, Friday, August 28 at 7 pm MDT / 9PM EDT.
HOW: Interested parties may register via the CCA’s website. The cost of admission is $12.00.