One Voice: Elise Quagliata (L) and Michael Kelly are Hannah in Opera Orlando’s “As One.” (Photos courtesy Opera Orlando)
ORLANDO | Opera Orlando puts the transgender community center stage with its performance of the chamber opera “As One” at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre May 21 and 23.
“As One” tells the story of Hannah — a transgender woman represented by two voices known as Hannah before, sung by a baritone, and Hannah after, sung by a mezzo-soprano — as she discovers her true identity. “As One” is told through a series of episodes, with the first part told through flashbacks revealing Hannah as a child and her uneasiness in high school and the second part sharing Hannah’s experiences in college, hormone therapy and her relationship with her family.
“It’s a story about the transgender community, but it also carries with it a universal message of discovering one’s self and being one’s self,” says Gabriel Preisser, executive director of Opera Orlando. “It’s something everyone can relate to. It’s also a show that is changing people’s perception of who transgender people are.”
While not an official entry into the festival, “As One” is being presented to align with the 2021 Orlando International Fringe Festival.
“We have been looking for the right time to do it and we thought while Orlando Fringe was going on would be perfect,” Preisser says. “We thought first about doing it at the Fringe Festival but the logistics of it wouldn’t work and then getting the rights to perform it, it didn’t seem doable to perform it at Fringe but we thought this is certainly a piece that would appeal to the Fringe audience.”
“As One” had its world premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music is September 2014 and became one of the most performed operas throughout 2016. Composed by Laura Kaminsky with a libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, the piece is in part inspired by Reed’s story. Reed, who is openly transgender and a filmmaker, also created protections that play an important part in the show.
Opera Orlando’s production, which they are partnering with 26 Health to present, will feature two singers who have performed “As One” in the past — New York’s Michael Kelly and Elise Quagliata, who is a Florida native. It will also feature a string quartet with musicians from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of transgender conductor Alexandra Enyart. Enyart makes her Opera Orlando debut with “As One.”
“It felt important to have someone who is transgender to lead this piece and help tell this story,” Preisser says. “We have the perfect person to conduct the piece and we have the perfect venue for the piece. [Harriett’s Ballet Centre] isn’t a huge venue like the [Dr. Phillips Center’s] Walt Disney Theatre, it is a more intimate venue which is perfect because this is a very intimate piece.”
Leading up to Opera Orlando’s presentation of “As One,” they have scheduled a special panel to discuss transgender issues within our community with members from various LGBTQ organizations including the LGBT+ Center, 26 Health and Zebra Coalition. The panel discussion will be hosted by Chevalier Lovett and feature special guest Angelica Sanchez.
The panel talk, which is free and open to the public, will be held May 13 at 2 p.m. at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre.
“It will give us a chance to talk about why performing a piece like ‘As One’ is so important,” Preisser says. “I’m happy we were able to find some great partners to be a part of this because Orlando is a beautifully diverse place and we should celebrate that.”
Opera Orlando’s “As One” plays at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre May 21 at 7:30 p.m. and May 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at OperaOrlando.org. The panel discussion is at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre May 13 at 2 p.m. Space is limited, so RSVP to info@operaorlando.org.
