Acosta, Adams, Baker, and Williams Shone in Queer Opera Leads in 2018—Superlative Craft
The advance of queer themes in opera is a significant development that runs counter to the standard heteronormativity of the art form in general. On the other hand, queer opera isn’t necessarily going full throttle down the rock road of postmodern musical trends that reject harmony and melody. Therefore, both the Right and the Left are challenged by queerness but the operatic art form goes on anyway.
Two of this year’s best queer opera productions could not have been as brilliant as they were without great vocals that unfolded great storytelling. Voice, body, and psyche melded beautifully in four of 2018’s most outstanding performances of any kind on any stage. Minnesota Opera’s production of Fellow Travelers gave us devastating portrayals by Hadleigh Adams and Andres Acosta as two male lovers under siege during the McCarthy Era’s Lavender Scare. Skylark Opera’s production of As One was rapturously empowered by Luke Williams and Bergen Baker as “Hanna Before” and “Hanna After”—two performers played the same human being before and after transitional surgery.
5100 Eden Ave, Suite 107 • Edina, MN 55436
©2024 Lavender Media, Inc.