Spotlight
Opera Online
The In Series plans to shake up opera with the launch of an all-digital season.
T
HIS SPRING, AS THE WEEKS TURNED INTO to build the company’s streaming site, “INVISION Operahouse months without any notion of when live performances Without Walls,” which will open a month later, on July 19, could safely, comfortably resume, Timothy Nelson real- during an afternoon ribbon-cutting celebration. The season will ized that the In Series had to do something drastic. They needed kick off with a series of grand opening events in mid-September, to go big and bold, beyond any sense of normal. culminating on September 19 with the premiere of a four-part “I couldn't see us spending a whole season playing the game audio production combining Purcell’s The Fairy-Queen with of, ‘Will we do this? Do we have to move this? Will we resched- Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and featuring eight ule this?’” Nelson says. “Because of our capacity — and we're local and international performers, all accompanied by the three full-time staff and two part-time — that would just take all Dutch period instrument group Ensemble ‘t Kabinet. of our efforts.” The organization is currently bolstering its digital offerings, As horrible as the pandemic has been, it has also invited “the posting recordings from past productions, such as Butterfly, its opportunity for self-examination and reinvention,” Nelson says. radical reconstruction of the Puccini classic, and Kate Soper’s “And if there's anything that needs a lot of self-examination and Here Be Sirens, the centerpiece work from its 2020 Women’s reinvention, it's opera.” Furthermore, a small organization such Composer Festival. The In Series also presents biweekly virtual as the In Series might be ideally positioned to “use this oppor- Cocktail Concerts — live musical happy hour events broadcast tunity to do something that could help reinvent the art form in a from artists’ homes — through its Facebook page. (This Friday’s way it's needed for a long time.” Concert, on June 5, will take a more serious, timely tone, proAnd that, in essence, is how the In Series came to the decision viding a platform for members of the In Series family to sing or to make its 2020-2021 season digital, with most productions speak their feelings about the racial injustice that the country is all-virtual affairs, available to anyone for free. Naturally, given currently battling.) the uncharted boldness of such planning coupled with the overThe In Series will not be an all-digital organization forever all uncertain future of live performances, some programs and — or even for more than one season. “The season after next is details will change or be announced later, along our 40th anniversary, so it's a big year for us, and I Click Here with the exact benefits that will be offered exclualready have most of it planned [as] a live season,” sively for season subscribers. For More Info Nelson says. “But whatever we learn over the next The In Series will lay the groundwork for its year is definitely going to change us, and, if all goes season over the next few months, with a series of monthly well, the streaming service will be so successful that we will keep events, including “A Groundbreaking Groundbreaking” on June that and find a way to budget for five live performances a season 19, an interactive, virtual gala celebration that will raise money as well.” —Doug Rule For more on the In Series’ virtual offerings and plans in the wake of COVID-19, see www.inseries.org/in-response-1bd1. The next virtual Cocktail Concert is set for Friday, June 5. Visit www.facebook.com/INSeriesDC/live. 6
JUNE 4, 2020 • METROWEEKLY.COM
