As you know, we don’t typically use amplification for our voices in opera. However, during this season when we can’t bring our singers together to perform, we have chosen to tell stories of, and with, our community in a new and engaging way. This season is centered on the people of Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Kentucky and how opera tells our stories.
Through our stories, our Amplify Your Voice initiative is projecting the voices of our own community during this pandemic-induced hiatus. During this time when we seek to connect, Kentucky Opera continues to draw our region together through our timeless art form. This project will allow us the opportunity to explore the opera repertoire we love and share opera with other new opera audiences.
One thing that makes our art form resonate through the ages is its expression of the human condition. This season, we have identified three themes that frequently appear in opera as well as in our own lives: Family, Justice, and Faith. Please click on the photos below to see how Kentucky Opera will explore these themes this season.
Kentucky Opera retained its 20/21 artists, stage directors and studio artists to produce and perform original, online artistic content and live, in-person performances as part of its Amplify Your Voice initiative. Please consider a gift to support our season activities.
All families are unique, with stories of pain, joy and hope that deserve to be told. What special moments have defined your family?
The Civil Rights songs of the 1960s helped to shape a movement. What are our songs for today?
Exploring humanity's relationship with faith. What does faith look like in our community?
Early next year, Kentucky Opera will begin to reveal various aspects of three specific, existing operas that exemplify these three themes, and it will unveil how the operas would be produced on stage.
The 20/21 Amplify Your Voice season will culminate with Kentucky Opera inviting the community to choose which opera theme speaks most prominently to Kentuckians today. The opera chosen by our community will be performed during Kentucky Opera’s 70th anniversary season in the fall of 2022.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
to support the reimagined season include:
THE JO(e)Y OF OPERA
An 11-week online exploration of the 400-year evolution and history of opera taught by Kentucky Opera Artistic Advisor Joseph Mechavich, continuing live through December. (Classes are recorded and available for viewing through teachable.com).
HOOPS & HIGH NOTES
Soprano Ashley Emerson will host an online video series that includes a lighthearted comparison of opera singers with athletes, artists and artisans in our community. They’ll compare notes, flaunt their skills, compare secrets of their craft and share in good-natured competition. Details coming soon.
BOOK CLUBS
Coming in Spring 2021. Details to be announced.