'Silent Night' at Opera Philadelphia | PRIVATELESSONS.com Articles

'Silent Night' at Opera Philadelphia

Ghenady Meirson

Submitted: Sunday, February 17, 2013 - 7:59pm

'Silent Night' at Opera Philadelphia | Photo: Dominic M. Mercier

Opera Philadelphia Silent Night Extended Preview

Recently re-branded Opera Philadelphia is definitely on the rise. The latest production of "Silent Night" by Kevin Puts, 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner, is a success with the Philadelphia audiences, and we are tough.

The subject is based on the historical World War I event. On Christmas Eve 1914, Scottish, French and German officers negotiated a brief ceasefire to celebrate Christmas and allow each side to bury their dead soldiers. It is an emotionally charged story.

The stage craft was quite exciting. On smaller scale, revolving set and scenes of raging war and special effects reminded me a bit of the Metropolitan Opera production of Prokofieff's "War and Peace".

Kudos should also go to general director of the company David Devan for making a commitment to present new American works for the next ten years through American Repertoire Program.

I particularly like to see Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) and Curtis Institute of Music current students and alumni perform with the company. In the tradition of Philadelphia Orchestra, which has nearly 50% Curtis grads in its ranks, it is important and smart that Opera Philadelphia engages locally trained talent in addition to visiting stars.

Since I am not a critic but a colleague to many involved in the production, all I can say is that the work is interesting and worth exploring when it comes to an opera house near you.

Instruments: 

Opera, Voice, Singing, Vocal

Music Genres: 

Classical, Contemporary