Pittsburgh Opera to Tell Transgender Story with AS ONE Chamber Opera

Pittsburgh Opera continues its 78th season with the Pennsylvania premiere of As One, a chamber opera for two voices and string quartet, by composer Laura Kaminsky and co-librettists Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters February 18th - 26th, 2017.

As One tells the story of the transgender protagonist, Hannah, as she tries to reconcile the discord between herself and the outside world. With humor and empathy, As One traces Hannah's experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years on the West Coast, and finally to Norway where she is surprised at what she learns about herself.

As One will star Pittsburgh Opera's Resident Artists Brian Vu as 'Hannah before' and Taylor Raven as 'Hannah after.' It will be performed in the intimate environs of Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.

On stage February 18, 21, 24 & 26, 2017, As One is described by the New York Classical Review as "everything that we hope for in contemporary opera: topical, poignant, daring, and beautifully written." Most tickets are $40 and are available online.

Fascinating Facts about As One:

1. The vast majority of new operas are never performed again after their premiere. As One has already been performed by nine different opera companies throughout the United States and beyond since its 2014 premiere.
2. As One is based very loosely on some of the experiences of Kimberly Reed. Kimberly produced and directed the film Prodigal Sons. The movie shows Kimberly returning home to a small town in Montana for her high school reunion, and her attempts at reconciliation with her long-estranged adopted brother, Marc. Kimberly discussed her experiences and the movie on Oprah in 2013.
3. Taylor Raven, the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist who is singing the role of Hannah after, sang the role with Seattle Opera in November.
4. As One Co-librettist Mark Campbell is involved with not one, but two of Pittsburgh Opera's 2016-17 operas. He also contributed additional lyrics and dramaturgical advice to Pittsburgh Opera's world premiere of The Summer King - the Josh Gibson Story, which features music by Daniel Sonenberg.

For information about how to fairly and accurately report on transgender people and their stories, reference this link, provided by GLAAD: www.glaad.org/reference/transgender.

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 78th season in 2016-17. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn's leadership.

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