This latest opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer had nice music, nice performances, and a blockbuster story informed cleverly, with an impactful backside line…spectacular, so near being an amazing opera. In reality, two of the later scenes of the second act have been nice opera. This was such a wealthy story; I wrestle to clarify why I got here away feeling that it fell simply in need of greatness. As I feel extra in regards to the efficiency, I can’t escape the sensation that it wasn’t as affecting because it might have been. Let me report and attempt to clarify.
Mary Jane Bowser (Jacqueline Echols McCarley), slave, Civil Battle spy, can learn, write, do math, and keep in mind every little thing. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
The composer and librettist of Intelligence are two of probably the most revered opera luminaries working at present, already with lists of successes to their names. Virginia Opera has lately produced a number of glorious trendy operas with connections to the Commonwealth. Fellow Vacationers in 2023 comes instantly to thoughts, as does 2022’s manufacturing of Three Decembers by Heggie and Scheer, after which 2025’s world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. In simply the second manufacturing of Intelligence, Virginia Opera introduced the opera from Texas to Virginia, the place the story takes place, after premiering with Houston Grand Opera in 2023. I caught the ultimate efficiency of this opera’s run in Fairfax on Sunday afternoon, after it beforehand performed in Norfolk and Richmond, the precise metropolis of the story. I had posted a preview of this Richmond spy story in January.
Elizabeth (Ashley Dixon), chief of the spy ring, and her protege, Mary Jane (Jacqueline Echols McCarley), face concern collectively. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
(This report does have spoilers.) The opera’s plot tells an incredible story of a Richmond pro-Union white girl, Elizabeth Van Lew, and her black slave, Mary Jane Bowser, who labored collectively at nice threat to their lives through the Civil Battle to supply essential intelligence to Common Sherman, hastening the top of the warfare. The Van Lews have been a rich, outstanding household in Virginia. Their slave Mary Jane had obtained particular therapy since delivery; she had been baptized and married within the Lew’s white church, was despatched north to be educated, and despatched to spend time in Africa. She might learn, write and do math, key components for spying, and she or he might keep in mind every little thing. Her blackness and slave standing offered cowl for her expertise – the white officers and troopers assumed she lacked the intelligence to learn and write, and simply ignored her as she labored as a maid within the Jefferson Davis residence. Historical past tells us that Elizabeth and Mary Jane, proprietor and slave, have been actual spies, who labored collectively through the Civil Battle, although the story of their relationship within the opera is historic fiction. Three different characters within the opera are within the historical past books, Mary Jane’s husband Wilson, a slave runner for the spy community, Henry, the slave butler within the Jefferson mansion, and Callie, Elizabeth’s sister-in-law dwelling along with her. Fully fictional characters within the plot have been Travis, an amoral Accomplice Residence Guard making an attempt to catch the spies, and Lucinda, a ghost/spirit whom solely Mary Jane might see. A trio of dancers have been additionally necessary to connecting Mary Jane to her ancestry.
Accomplice Home Guard Travis (Craig Irvin) meets Callie (Maureen McKay), Elizabeth’s sister-in-law. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera. 
VO assembled a solid for this manufacturing to make Virginia proud. Excellent soprano Mary Jane Bowser was performed by Jacqueline Echols McCarley. She has carried out with Washington Nationwide Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Metropolitan Opera, amongst others (if you’re googling her, the usage of her married final title in solid listings is latest). Listening to her sing was wonderful, like watching Tom Brady play soccer, a consummate skilled with excellent expertise; her voice has a phenomenal timbre, and each phrase sung appeared to hold its personal colour. Mezzo-soprano Ashley Dixon gave a portrayal of Elizabeth Van Lew that was tone good in singing and appearing. She has additionally appeared with established opera firms throughout the US, and curiously for this manufacturing, she was the duvet for Elizabeth within the Houston Grand Opera efficiency of Intelligence. Younger mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd performed Lucinda with such splendor vocally and appearing, it was arduous to imagine she is a latest graduate of the Met Opera Younger Artist Improvement Program; she additionally lined the function for HGO. Soprano Maureen McKay, who’s headed to the Met Opera to play Papagena, was additionally glorious singing and appearing within the function of Callie.
Baritone Craig Irvin, additionally a longtime veteran in opera homes throughout the nation, performed Travis, giving us the villain and oppressor we like to hate in painfully convincing type, accentuated by well-sung threatening vocals. Bass Kevin Thompson performed the love struck butler Henry with a robust, expressive bass voice. Tenor Edward Graves sang two beautiful arias as Mary Jane’s husband Wilson. He additionally was a canopy for the function with HGO. In non-singing roles, dancers Noelani Corey-Bar, Amaya Weston, and Christine C. Wyatt (who was additionally the choreographer) added magnificence and drama to the efficiency.
Mary Jane (Jacqueline Echols McCarley) confronts her heritage with Lucinda (Cierra Byrd) and dancers Noelani Corey-Barr, Amaya Weston, and Christine C. Wyatt. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
Guess which opera received greatest opera recording at this yr’s Grammy Awards. Yep, Jake Heggie’s Intelligence. It was deserved. The music was atmospheric in assist of the scene, musically attention-grabbing, and ingenious, with a minimal use of dissonance to disclose unstated components in a scene, and a rating I instantly wished to listen to once more. This was a rating the place the percussion part bought a exercise, extremely rhythmic and altering, with totally different sections of the orchestra taking lead, violins, woodwinds, and even a piano. The music included a number of types, together with traditional opera, jazz, and blues. Mr. Heggie’s music was superbly performed and nicely accomplished, accompanying and adorning the vocals. Kudos to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra underneath the path of Brandon Eldredge.
Wilson (Edward Graves) as Mary Jane’s husband and spy runner. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
Due to smaller levels of the venues utilized by the Virginia Opera, the staging of the opera needed to be modified considerably. Veteran Director Kyle Lang, who has directed eleven operas for VO did one other wonderful job with the circulate of Intelligence on stage. The design was impressionistic and efficient with a big oak tree projected onto a scrim within the again and home windows hanging down to point a home, with facet panels transferring out and in so as to add different options. The costumes by Costume Coordinator Pat Seyller and Wig and Make-up Designer Elysse Mesick have been fairly good, successfully inserting the characters of their roles. The least efficient staging was the fireplace scene; it was not clear what was occurring and the urgency of getting important intelligence to the sector bought misplaced.
Butler Henry (Kevin Thompson) reads to Mary Jane (Jacqueline Echols McCarley) who claims to be illiterate. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
With all that, what did I discover wanting that affected my total evaluation? Although a number of extremely dramatic scenes have been offered in Act 1, I used to be primarily engaged intellectually. Maybe as a result of there was a lot to inform in a short while. As I anticipated, the spy story in Act 1 additionally gave consideration to Mary Jane’s must know extra about the place she got here from and who she was as she was confronted by a ghost from the previous, a theme that exploded in Act 2 and landed with the best impression. The significance of the ladies’s efforts to win the Civil Battle appeared to fade rapidly in Act 2. Travis, the Accomplice soldier and image of oppression, added little to the spy rigidity, extra feared for the man he was, together with his unrestrained lechery for Mary Jane. Subplots abounded. Did we actually want Edward the butler pursuing his love curiosity with Mary Jane, particularly within the dying scene? Simply me maybe, however I assumed the spy story and its risks have been diluted an excessive amount of. Act 2 was rather more participating.
The confrontation between Elizabeth (Ashley Dixon) and Mary Jane (Jacqueline Echols McCarley) with Lucinda (Cierra Byrd) standing by. Picture by Dave Pearson Pictures; courtesy of Virginia Opera.
Large spoilers lie forward. Return if you wish to see the story afresh.
Then again, let me handle the 2 scenes I discovered nice. I assumed one of many final scenes might win a Tony award. Callie discovers the lifeless Travis with {a partially} dug grave exterior by the outdated oak tree. She struggles, on her knees, by the grave, whether or not to assist the South by revealing what has occurred or to cowl it up by ending burying Travis to keep away from what the scandal would do to her household. On the similar time, unknown to her, Elizabeth stands shut by, pointing a pistol at her, torn between defending the trigger or her brother’s spouse. Each sing repeatedly, “If I do that, I will likely be chained to you perpetually”, to music that sounds just like the pleasing melodies we take residence with us from one of the best musicals and operas. Oh, I longed for extra of that, so clear, and with the music, so little spoken whereas a lot was mentioned.
The ultimate scene was additionally excellent. Mary Jane learns her fact. Elizabeth has lied to her. Her relationship with Elizabeth is damaged, and Mary Jane plans to maneuver on. She sings to Elizabeth with ardour crucial message within the opera: “You don’t management my story now”. This was highly effective, essential to understanding race relations as human relations – it’s human to need to management your personal story. Don’t tread on me. I demand my inalienable rights. Let freedom ring for all. It’s what the attraction of America is about, is it not? It’s the essence of being human, is it not?
Kudos to all concerned on this manufacturing, and kudos to Virginia Opera for his or her present to the Commonwealth! We realized about two meanings of intelligence. We realized in regards to the significance of secrets and techniques in warfare and secrets and techniques in our private lives. And we have been entertained whereas we realized. Not dangerous for a day, hey?
The Fan Expertise: Virginia Opera scheduled performances of Intelligence for Norfolk, January 30, February 1; Richmond, February 6, 8; and Fairfax, February 14, 15. The opera lasted round three hours together with one intermission. It was sung in English with projected English subtitles. As of this posting, the net program for Intelligence might be accessed at https://dpb-web.instantencore.com/program/50512/virginia-operabriintellig/web page/278875/residence?cid=5206347.
Virginia Opera’s subsequent manufacturing will likely be Aida, to be carried out in Norfolk on March 13, 15 and in Richmond on March 20, 22. OV’s web site states that the expense of transferring Aida to a different location was prohibitive, so this manufacturing won’t journey to Fairfax. I’d additionally add that to make sure that future productions do seem in Fairfax, elevated attendance and beneficiant donations would assist.
