Page 696 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

some of it has to do with image. But in recent years that has changed a bit.
Certain popular composers have taken a stab at writing opera, like Rufus
Wainright. It has taken some of the stigma off the idea that opera could be
popular.”

Cincinnati Opera artistic director Evans Mirageas is more blunt about it.

“I think there is a bit of snobbery involved,” said Mirageas. “It’s Paul
McCartney, you know, so it must just be pop tunes.”

Though he is based in London, set and costume designer Leslie Travers developed
a special affinity for Liverpool when he spent substantial amounts of time … Show
more
PROVIDED BY CINCINNATI OPERA

Heaven forbid a legitimate opera company might decide to engage in a
production of this sort. But in the course of the past 20-30 years, some
American opera companies – Cincinnati, among them – have changed a
great deal. They understood that unless they evolved along with the world
around them, they were in danger of turning into museums dedicated to
long-ago musical eras.

So we have seen a steady diet of new operas from Cincinnati Opera. A few
have been mainstage productions. But just as many have been smaller
productions, often developed in conjunction with the University of
Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.