Over its twenty-five year history, Opera Maine has presented many of the world’s favorite operas, from Mozart to Puccini. Under the artistic direction of Dona D.Vaughn and the musical direction of such internationally renowned conductors as Stephen Lord and Israel Gursky, Opera Maine’s productions have been widely acclaimed. Our outstanding performers have ranged from rising young stars to Kate Aldrich and the legendary James Morris.
The 2024 Studio Artist Program will present two performances of Rappahannock County which pairs the outstanding and celebrated talents of composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Mark Campbell. Rappahannock County is a theatrical song cycle that captures key emotional, sociological, and historical moments in the Civil War. Much of the text was inspired by actual events and drawn from diaries, letters, and other accounts. The narrative follows the lines of history, from secession in 1861 to defeat in 1865, and is in five parts. Although the story is centered geographically in Virginia, its themes are universal to the Civil War. It is described as such by Wes Blomster of Opera Today: “The piece has the sense of a lens closing in on a spectrum of individuals and their feelings around slavery and morality in a profound and poignant way…’ Opera Maine’s production will premiere a special score composed for two pianos.