Program Notes
The worlds of many opera tropes collide in the form of a farcical modern fairy tale as Guy, Linda, the Reaper, and Ida cross paths and attempt to sort out their tale of love, death, and calamity.
Scene 1, "Three Days Ago"
Scene 2, "You Can't Have It Both Ways"
Scene 3, "Linda's Reveal (You Know Me As a Beggar)"
Scene 4, "I Love Love / Familiar" / "Three Days Ago (Reprise)"
The ethos of "Reap What You Soul" is that the ridiculous can reveal truth and the absurd questions the ordinary. Through both its plot and casting, this opera seeks to critique societal constructs and expectations of gender, as well as traditional operatic representations of romantic love. The composer’s goal is for this operatic farce to ask audiences to reflect upon their assumptions: Why must the devil be a man, the tenor be the hero, and romantic love conquer all?
Opera mirrors timeless experiences shared across humanity, those of love, loss, joy, and sorrow. "Reap What You Soul" expands on this rich tradition by illuminating the people who live these experiences as an intersection of myriad identities. The work invites audiences and performers of all backgrounds into a contemporary fairy tale that imagines a more inclusive world.
Additional Information
Commissioned by Promenade Opera Project
Score and parts are available to rent by requesting a quote through Just a Theory Press.
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