boston lyric opera fall of the house of usher

William and Roderick hear frightening noises, and a window blows open. A flashback depicts Luna and her mother crossing into the United States. Luna climbs into a ditch in the detention yard. He becomes agitated, and William tries to soothe him. Roderick reveals that he and Madeline were twins. William helps Roderick carry Madeline’s coffin down to the tomb under the house. In the dollhouse, Madeline’s death casts a shadow over the House of Usher. Madeline has died, as has Luna’s pet chick. Images describe dancing, joyful gatherings, and birds flying free, which soon are replaced by news reports showing crowds of migrant families. Luna stares out the window at the other children in the detention yard. He tries to sleep, but is awakened by troubling dreams of Roderick and Madeline. William observes Roderick brushing Madeline’s hair and is unnerved. Outside the House of Usher, a storm rages. Archival footage shows images of life in the United States. His nerves are overwrought from caring for Madeline, and he says that he cannot leave the house. Roderick, pale and drawn, greets William, but when William gives him a music box as a gift, Roderick recoils from its sound. We learn that the Ushers’ story is taking place within that dollhouse and Luna’s imagination. Luna stumbles across an abandoned dollhouse. Meanwhile, archival television footage juxtaposes idyllic images of American family life, with that of children in detention centers, like the one where we see Luna again. Upon entering the gloomy home, William meets a physician, who warns him not to upset the household. Roderick and his sister, Madeline, are the last left of the Usher family, and Madeline is mysteriously ill. Simultaneously, William rushes to the home of his boyhood friend, Roderick Usher, who has sent him a letter begging him to visit. Luna, a young girl, is watching television at home in Guatemala City when her mother receives a phone call. Please note this synopsis contains spoilers for the film experience. These pieces frame the original opera libretto. “We’ve been trying to look ahead all year to something brighter and greater, and it can be difficult at times,” she says, “but I think we’ve forged ahead with a lot of perseverance.This synopsis represents three interwoven stories – Poe’s original story the story of Luna, a young girl from Guatemala City and references of an American story shown through archival images. Victor is encouraged by the way the art world and the BLO are delving into new forms. Later in the year, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “desert in” will take to the screen, bringing innovative opera home. “A Winter’s Evening” is the first of several performances newly designed for the unusual 2020/21 season. Like many who weren’t able to see family this year, the performers think fondly about their families and traditions. She says, “I’m really excited that art is becoming more accessible to so many people, especially marginalized communities.”īetween songs, the performers reminisce about their own holiday experiences, bringing a very personal bent to the evening. Victor hopes this will bring the piece to those who haven’t been able to experience the opera before. The multicultural performance is also made more accessible as an on-demand video performance. She says she’s delighted to see such a diverse group of artists come together, especially in the opera field. Victor, a Brockton native who is an arts activist and a performer in her own right, has used her Miss Massachusetts platform to advocate for culture. Boston Lyric Opera’s “A Winter’s Evening.” Zaira Meneses (left) and Gabrielle Reyes.

Boston lyric opera fall of the house of usher