Page 5 - The Race 2. jANUARY 7

The Race

The Race is a unique piece of performance
and movie-making art that was created by
Opera Modesto during the COVID crisis
when staged shows were shut down. Someone
in the Stevens-Winberg family said, “Hey,
why don’t we make a movie,” and the magic
began. Aided by the fact that no one in the
performance industries was working, Opera
Modesto was able to engage top notch talent
in all areas, at affordable rates, to help with
the production. Michael Everett of Creation
Labs, an award-winning sound and video
company, filmed, recorded and edited the
film. Deborah Kavasch, composer and Linda
Bunney-Sarhad, librettist, both from U.C.
Stanislaus, created the story line for the young
person’s opera – The Race, a mash-up of Ae-
sop Fables focused on the race between the
tortoise and the hare, but also including the
stories of The Bear and the Bees, The Hares
and the Frogs, The Fox and the Grapes, and
the Wolf in sheep’s Clothing. Keilani Gleave,
of Hollywood, designed the costumes. Liisa
Davila conducted the orchestra in the or-
chards, fields and vineyards of the Central
Valley. Carolina Stevens directed her first and
only movie.

Amazingly, the film became an international sensation, garnering over 80 awards in all areas of
filmmaking. It has since been translated into 15 languages with an accompanying graphic novel. Both
are available as an ESL educational tool. Information regarding viewing and purchase at:
www.operamodesto.org.