What a refreshing and delightful evening of opera, and I’m still laughing.
Ginsburg/Scalia is a contemporary comic opera inspired by the relationship between U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The two judges famously oppositional in their interpretations of the constitution found common ground in their shared humanity and reverence for democracy, summed up beautifully in their character’s duet, “We are different, we are one.” I find this odd couples mutual love for opera most endearing and really enjoy this picture of the two performing as guests at the Washington Opera.
Creator Derrick Wang takes us through a pastiche of musical references that wonderfully reflects on Scalia and Ginsburgs’ love for the genre of opera. I thought the references were cleverly similar to how the courts often cite precedent, using the past to inform the present. As a fan of opera it was fun to recognize a snippet from Verdi, Mozart, or Puccini and try to recall which particular opera it was from.
Tonight was made all the more special because I was joined by my friend Chris, a brilliant engineer and an expert on both the Beatles and the history of the Supreme Court. I always relish the opportunity to introduce opera to new people and just like my first opera La Boheme about a group of artists spoke to me, Scalia/Ginsburg proves there is a right first opera for everyone!
We both agreed that the performance from the singers was vital and felt like everyone enjoyed performing together, they nailed all the comic punch-lines and I can’t help but think Ginsburg herself would have approved highly of Kelly Guerra’s passion delivering the tenants of equality and defense of her friend. I didn’t come in with many expectations and was impressed by how balanced the libretto was in treating the memory of Scalia, “fair and balanced” to quote my least favorite news channel. Nicholas Nestorak infused Scalia with much humanity and I laughed out loud when he burst out, “get over it already.” Cody Müller delivered an authoritative bass and wise verdict in the end.
The orchestra moved nimbly from one style to the next and buoyantly supported the comedic moments with a deft precision. The Princeton Symphony Orchestra Music Director and artistic head of The Princeton Festival Rossen Milanov conducted yesterday’s performance instead of Festival Director Gregory Jon Geehern. I did miss hearing my old friends who played Nixon in China during the last festival; regardless, tonight everyone played wonderfully together.
Being a short opera the evening opened with Mozart’s Impresario, a comic singspiel (somewhere between a play and opera). I found it enormously interesting that both shows tonight laud the importance of institutions that are bigger than the individuals who serve them. In Impresario, the original players may be gone for centuries, but the music and story persist. In Scalia/Ginsburg, both judges are now gone, but the Supreme Court and their precedents live on.
The artist and engineer stroll downtown, the moon lies behind cool clouds, and the pubs are as full as the gelato lines are long against the bricks of Princeton.
So What is Scalia/Ginsburg all about? Justice Scalia is locked in limbo where his fate is to be decided if he will go to heaven or hell. He will have to face three trials before the supernatural judge will decide. This is when Justice Ginsburg arrives to help defend her friend so that he will be assured a place in heaven. The opera came with a fun multiple choice that foreshadows many of the references to be heard in the opera ahead. In the Impresario an older and younger Diva compete for a role as the director struggles for his play to be produced.
Notes on the Production:
The Impresario*
Composer……………………………. Mozart
Buff…………………………………………. Cody müller
Herr Frank……………………………… Lance Channing
Herr Eiler………………………………… Nicholas Nestorak
Madame Silverklang……………..Aubry Ballaro
Miss Sweetsong…………………….. Kelly Guerra
Scalia/Ginsburg*
Composer………………………………………. Derrick Wang
Justice Antonin Scalia…………………… Nicholas Nestorak
The Commentator…………………………. Cody Müller
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg……….. Kelly Guerra
Conductor…………………………………………. Gregory J. Geehern
6/12/22
Princeton Opera Festival
*Both productions were mic’d and The Impresario was sung in English