Brandon Tyler Padgett and Sabina Balsamo fill the positions of both performers and stage directors for Boulder Opera Company’s Operatizers. Operatizers is a collection of five short contemporary operas that follow modern-day themes that will resonate with the audience. Balancing the dual roles of both stage director and performer is undoubtedly a challenge, but Padgett and Balsamo have seamlessly mastered it! Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with them, delving into their creative process to gain more insight on Operatizers.
Padgett has performed in Boulder Opera’s The Magic Flute and Xochitl and The Flowers, but Operatizers proves to be the standout show of the 12th season. “Operatizers is a concentrated and powerful experience that can enrich both the most seasoned operagoer and a novice to the art form,” explains Padgett. “While other offerings by Boulder Opera provide both beauty and philosophy, it is a rare opportunity to experience such a myriad of themes in such concentrations.”
Balsamo and Padgett's creative process for this show began with Samuel Barber’s Hand of Bridge on their minds. “While this piece has many different directions to be taken, ranging from a point of absurd comedy to deeply deranged and dark, the aspect we saw was the true ability to be both extremes,” says Padggett. From there, the stage directors decided to explore the profound in mundane situations with American opera composers.
Boulder Opera is taking a giant creative leap by incorporating contemporary opera in the upcoming seasons. “Presenting contemporary opera in the Boulder artistic community is a unique opportunity to showcase relatable characters grappling with situations familiar to our own lives,” Balsamo explains. “Offering a new experience that hasn't been widely explored in our artistic community. Operatizers is great for engaging younger audiences, and our bite-size program provides an accessible entry point for first-time opera goers.”
Balsamo will be featured in Jake Heggie’s At the Statue of Venus. The story follows a young woman, Rose, who is about to go on a date with a man she has never met before. “At the Statue of Venus is such a relatable glimpse into someone’s life. Rose is a character that is so different from myself, and yet I understand her so well,” says Balsamo. “She represents every single one of us imperfect human beings in our endless search for unconditional love. It is a joy to sing this role and see the world through Rose’s perspective.”
Padgett will star in three of the five short operas. One of which is Ilan Blank’s The Spare Room with the Shag Rug. He previously performed in this piece during his time as a CU Boulder student. “It is a scene centered around a young woman in college studying Spanish. She seems scattered and deeply in need of direction, as most young college undergraduates often are. She is floundering to meet the approval of a Spanish tutor, a surly, overly exacerbated TA type,” he explains. “This seems like a mundane and frankly banal situation, until the audience is introduced to a specter of the young woman’s grandmother. "We quickly learn that the reason this student wants to learn Spanish is because her now deceased grandmother spoke only Yiddish and Spanish.”
Operatizers will be shown at the Dairy Arts Center on April 18, April 20th at 7 pm, and April 21st at 3 pm. Balsamo and Padgett only ask for one thing for their audience: Enjoy themselves. “Operatizers offers a wide range of experiences, from cheesy comedy to beautiful melodies and thought-provoking narratives. I believe there is an opera for everyone in this program. Additionally, I am excited for the “Maestro's Reception—a chance for audience members to have a drink and meet with the artistic team during a special intermission.”
*Maestro’s reception will be included in the saturday and sunday showing of Operatizers. This event is a $20.00 up charge per person and not included in a ticket purchase.