Today It Rains (2018)

Today It Rains is a new chamber opera inspired by a real event in the life of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe. On the rainy morning of April 29, 1929, O’Keeffe boarded a train in New York with fellow artist Rebecca Strand, leaving behind her tumultuous marriage with Alfred Stieglitz and yearning for escape and creative fulfillment. Three days later, she arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, inspired by the power of the area’s landscape and ready for new artistic experience. The 90-minute work that imagines this life event will be performed by a cast of eight singers and an instrumental ensemble of eleven, and will feature a sophisticated projection design, including ‘film arias’ created by Kimberly Reed and Brian Staufenbiel. While taking its inspiration from this singular artist’s journey, the story will resonate with anyone who seeks creative freedom and is transformed by the beauty of Nature. Today It Rains is a courageous woman’s story and an independent artist’s story. It is also a uniquely American story.

Opera Parallèle, 2019

Artists:

• Conductor - Nicole Paiement
• Director - Brian Staufenbiel
• Georgia O'Keeffe - Blythe Gaissert, mezzo-soprano
• Alfred Siteglitz - Daniel Belcher, baritone
• "Beck" - Marnie Breckenridge, soprano
• Aubrey - Nathan Granner, tenor