WESTMINSTER WEST — This past year, my 10-year-old son, a violin and piano student, has led me to the Latchis to see as many operas, live in HD from the Met, as possible. An unusual interest for a child, yes, but when I read that the Windham Orchestra was looking for choral members for a production of Puccini's Turandot, I asked him if he might be interested in participating. He responded by jumping up and down a few inches from me and nodding his head crazily.
At this point, I have driven him to perhaps six rehearsals, an engaging novel in my hand, thinking I would use the time to read. Over these 10 to 12 hours, I have read no more than a few pages - not because my child is learning to sing, nor because of Puccini's brilliance.
Instead, I repeatedly fall into a state of awe observing a range of people from our community guided by the tremendous respect, humor, and expert intensity that both Hugh Keelan and Jenna Rae provide, into an artistic exploration that is notable and well beyond the bounds of what we think of when we say “local.”
Yes, the Windham Orchestra and its conductor are ours, and they work and perform here in our midst, but I have discovered that what our orchestra is doing in practice and performance is of a standard that shines out into the world.
It is wonderful that my 10-year-old boy is invited into an experience that is obviously nourishing and formative for him. It seems of greater importance, however, that I let others know that there is a rich experience waiting for them, also.
For those who love to sing, this may mean calling the Brattleboro Music Center now to join the rabble chorus that will support the primary chorus for October's performances of Turandot. For others, it may mean calling or going online to purchase tickets for themselves alone or for opera lovers they know. Or it may mean registering a child for lessons at the Brattleboro Music Center or elsewhere to learn to play an instrument or to sing so that one day they may perform with the Windham Orchestra.
I encourage others to do these things but, if nothing else, please know that something very good, something excellent, is happening in our midst.
While there are many seemingly insurmountable difficulties we face in our community and the world, there is a refined and insistent artistic force that the Windham Orchestra's director works passionately to pass on to his performers so that they, in turn, can pass on to the rest of us an experience of honest emotional and intellectual depth.
Hugh Keelan's talent, with a good deal of performers' virtuosity added in, will make Turandot an experience that restores hope in what human beings can accomplish together.
My precocious child stepped forward because I think he already understands this generally. I am merely passing on what I am slowly learning from him.