Turbulent times give way for meaningful self-reflection. What (or who) is important to us? What could we have done differently? Who would we sacrifice ourselves for?
Lumee's Dream, our newest Digital Short, is poised to answer these questions. And now, you can watch it below.
Prefer to watch without captions?
Click on the blue "cc" button in the bottom, right corner of the video and select "none".
NOTE: This video contains kaleidoscopic imagery and may cause dizziness in some individuals.
Prefer to watch without captions?
Click on the white "cc" button on the bottom, right side of the video and select "none."
A Note from Composer Ellen Reid and Lumee's Dream Text by Roxie Perkins
Lumee's Dream is an aria from "p r i s m," an opera I wrote with librettist Roxie Perkins. Lumee, one of the two main characters, sings this aria while smoking outside a nightclub in the second act, giving us a window into her selfish fantasies.
Note continued...
The Digital Shorts video, directed by James Darrah, who also directed the opera, is not taken from the production, but is conceived as a companion piece, probing the character's imagined reality. Nadia Sirota channels Lumee through her viola playing, Rebecca Jo Loeb gives voice to the character, and Sasha Rivero and Anna Schubert's physical performances give us a window into her soul.
Lumee's Dream
Text by Roxie Perkins
I had my favorite dream last night, the one about us.
In the dream I'm a young golden maiden and your hair is dark like a crow.
We live in a stone sanctuary on top of a hill, outside our window is a great sea. Dark, dark, dark blue water. Dark blue without a floor.
And I hear them outside waiting, wanting, and I know what I must do for you.
Careful not to wake you, I hurl myself out of the window.
I am copper and feather slicing through the night and no one can see me.
Down I sink like they want me to.
I stay there all night.
At dawn they are done with me.
Exhausted, I pull my dripping body back to our window where I watch you sleep peacefully as I dry.
If you prefer to watch this digital short on your Smart TV just follow one of these suggestions:
With your help, we can provide support for the hundreds of artists and staff whose work and livelihood have been impacted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and provide quality programming free of charge.
The power of opera stems from the fact that nearly every aspect of each and every production is lovingly created by hand, instrument or voice.
With a full orchestra and chorus, stagehands, singers, designers, costumers, technicians and more, each opera we produce employs 300-500 people.
The LA Opera Relief Fund provides much needed relief for those impacted by production cancellations and will help us continue to employ artists, and serve and support our community during this unprecedented time.
To give to the LA Opera Relief Fund Click here
HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP?
Our exceptional box office staff would love to help you. You can reach them Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm at 213.972.8001 or at customerservice@laopera.org
