One Voice Project Micro Opera Festival
Free (Pay what you can (registration required))
Composer Lisa Neher and Librettist Kendra Leonard present the One Voice Project Virtual Micro Opera Festival, a weeklong festival of micro opera world premieres. Every day from March 22-26 at 5pm Pacific, a new 5-minute unaccompanied opera written by Neher & Leonard will be released on YouTube.
The operas feature acclaimed opera singers from across the United States, including tenor Hugo Vera (Metropolitan Opera), mezzo-soprano Margaret O’Connell (Center for Contemporary Opera), soprano Audrey Yoder (Pacific Opera Project), tenor Zach Finkelstein (New York City Opera), and mezzo-soprano Lisa Neher herself (Opera Theatre Oregon).
The festival channels the artistic brilliance of opera singers who have frequently found themselves without work and artistic outlets during the pandemic. Each opera is a self-contained story, with plots that address women in sport, the life of musicians during the pandemic, and resilience in the face of obstacles. Several were composed in collaboration with the singers, with plots drawn from their experiences over the last year. The operas promote unaccompanied repertoire for singers as a genre equal to that of unaccompanied instrumental repertoire, a cause Neher regularly champions through her One Voice Project call for scores & concert series.
Tickets are Pay as You Can in order to make opera accessible to all. Sign up to get your pass to the One Voice Project Micro Opera Festival!
Schedule:
Monday, March 22 | 5pm Pacific:
Lisa Neher – Wide Awake in a New City
Hugo Vera, tenor
When you move to a completely new place in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, things are not exactly normal. Raul’s despair turns into excitement with a little change of view in Wide Awake in the New City.
Tuesday, March 23 | 5pm Pacific:
Lisa Neher – Par for the Course
Audrey Yoder, soprano
In Par for the Course, meet the indefatigable Babe Didrikson, superstar athlete. She’s won every golf tournament on offer—except the men-only U.S. Open. Hear what happens when the PGA rejects her bid to beat the men on their own turf.
Wednesday, March 24 | 5pm Pacific:
Lisa Neher – Momentum
Lisa Neher, mezzo-soprano
Runner Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to compete in the Boston Marathon—but it wasn’t easy, as you’ll hear in Momentum. Attacked by men who didn’t want her there, Switzer had a difficult decision to make about whether to finish the race.
Thursday, March 25 | 5pm Pacific:
Lisa Neher – Woman Waits with Sword
Margaret O’Connell, mezzo-soprano
Woman Waits with Sword celebrates self-reliance: in 17th century France, Alberte-Barbe D'ernécourt, Dame de Saint-Baslemont, has been protecting her people from invaders during the Hundred Years’ War. But when an intruder tries to claim her home and ignores her because of her sex, she becomes the Chevalier de Saint-Baslemont and challenges him to a duel he cannot turn down.
Friday, March 26 | 5pm Pacific:
Lisa Neher – Now Available
Zach Finkelstein, tenor
Anxious about his musical career, what’s happening in the opera world, and how Covid-19 will change the shape of future performances, one singer moves from angst to optimism in Now Available.
Friday, March 26 | 5:10pm Pacific: Talkback and Q&A reception with the artists, hosted by Gina Morgano of the Practice Parlour Podcast. Free registration is required for the Talkback, using this form: https://forms.gle/Ks8HZN193bQ72URUA
This festival is Pay as You Can. We invite you to make a donation to @Lisa-Neher on Venmo or lisanehermusic@gmail.com on PayPal in support of the artists. Consider donating your one-hour salary. All proceeds will be split evenly between the artists. Thank you!