Trivia Edition 11: Pride Month 1. Who is the first openly gay conductor of the Metropolitan Opera? A: Yannick Nézet-Séguin Canadian conductor and pianist, Yannick Nézet-Séguin currently serves as music director of the Metropolitan Opera, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Montréal Orchestra. He began appearing with the Met in 2009 with his debut conducting Carmen in 2009. However, after Levine’s termination, he was appointed music director officially in the 20/21 season, after having served as music director-designate from 17/18 season until then. Yannick talks about becoming the Music Director of the Met: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6TOZSzqqhU Yannick conducts “Parigi, o cara” from the Met’s 2018 production of La Traviata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkedSvggJpE 2. Fellow Travelers made its world premiere here at Cincinnati Opera in 2016, with libretto by Greg Pierce, and composed by whom? A: Gregory Spears This opera is comprised of 16 scenes and a co-commission by Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati through Opera Fusion: New Works. The story is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon. It features a love relationship between two men during the McCarthy era and the “lavender scare” that unjustly outed and fired thousands of queer people across the US. Mr. Spears is also the composer for our 2021 world premier Castor and Patience. “Our Very Own Home” from Fellow Travelers from Cincinnati Opera’s workshop performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AcvB7BtG6k “Quite a View” from Minnesota Opera’s production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_6aUA94Fpc 3. The first gay character in opera is said to be Countess Geschwitz from what Alban Berg opera? A: Lulu Lulu premiered in June 1937 at the Zurich Opera and is based on two librettos by Frank Wedekind, Erdgeist (Earth Spirit) and Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora’s Box). Berg died without finishing the third act, and now it is standard practice to use the version with Friedrich Cerha’s orchestration of the third act, which premiered in 1979. While there were operas before Lulu to allude to a queer character, this is the first time a main character, Countess Geschwitz, openly admits her love for the titular character, Lulu. A tragic tale as the love isn’t mutual, but it was historical to have an openly queer character. Barbara Hannigan sings as Lulu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bLS5_Kg77A 4. Who was the first openly gay composer to compose an opera with a same- sex relationship as the heart of the story? Hint: the title of the opera is Young Caesar. A: Lou Harrison While there have been stories and rumors of other composers previous to Lou Harrison of being gay, Lou Harrison, born in Portland, Oregon was openly gay. Harrison was a student of Henry Cowell, and Arnold Schoenberg. His opera Young Caesar was premiered in Pasadena in 1971 as a puppet opera. However, it was successfully re-produced with the LA Philharmonic in 2017. The story tells of the brief and uncertain history of Julius Caesar and his relationship with King Nicomedes during his trip to Bithynia. LA Phil trailer of their production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpCGKVmh4s San Francisco-based Ensemble Parallèlle performed Lou Harrison's opera "Young Caesar" at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l393EGdD6Pc 5. What opera did Cincinnati Opera produce in 2018 by Laura Kaminsky that told the tale of trans woman? A: As One This opera was workshopped and premiered with the American Opera Projects in 2014 with a libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed. This chamber opera is thought to be the first opera to tell the story of a trans person and the process of discovering themselves through life. “To Know” from the premiered American Opera Projects production of As One in 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIu5GNPL5MM “Perfect Boy” from Pittsburgh Opera’s production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaNi9uYFBH8 You can stream the full opera on YouTube through the Kennedy Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Hl6dlPscc Or see American Opera Project’s production by doing a simple registration: https://www.aopopera.org/aop-tv-registration Other Resources: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-decline-of-opera-queens-and-the-rise- of-gay-opera https://www.wfmt.com/2027/06/20/7-american-operas-put-lgbtq-issues-center-stage/ https://operawire.com/pride-month-2017-a-look-at-the-lgbt-operas-in-history/ .