Coda: Journeys and Destinations

Mornings after opera I would find a cozy coffee shop to write and write about what I heard and why I loved it.

A personal celebration, a memoir where my modest life overlapped with the world of opera written completely and only for myself; at least until a global pandemic turned everyones life upside down.

The theaters closed, my job went remote, and the world’s voices from baristas to divas were sequestered behind masks here and around the world. If not for a few friends, the amazing Chaltin, and our book club it would have been an unbearable loneliness.

Needing projects to keep my mind busy and think about better times I began the application process for an Italian citizenship thru my Grandpop’s bloodline but since the process and research is slow I begin to go back through my opera journals. It was then it struck me that if the theaters ever re-opened I would see 101 operas, and being a decision made in a time of desperation to connect with other humans I also decided that I would share the experience on this blog.

When things began to gradually re-open the goal not only became possible but rapidly became a living document chronicling opera around the time of not only a pandemic but days of great social and climate change, but not to despair.

Opera is absolutely having a moment and doing what art does best.

Art expresses how it feels to be a human experiencing the world at a particular place and time. It articulates the feelings through forms that the other humans can experience and say, Yes! That’s it! I thought it was just me!? Through art people feel heard and seen and less alone.

New composers revitalize the genre to fill large and small stages across the country while standards from the greatest composers who ever lived like Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini are still widely played.

As a fan it has been a very special adventure to learn about this most ambitious and unique of art forms during uncertain times, both a critique and celebration of humanity.

If you have been following along I offer my deepest gratitude for hearing my voice. We did it! If you’re new then I hope you start at the beginning and learn with me as I explore the question:

What is Opera?

Joe Bliss
Small ears full of big sounds.

Thanks to the many who took part in this journey to see 101 operas: My love Chaltin for holding my hand and sharing this amazing project and midnight Justino’s pizza. Not only would the journey not have been possible without you, it wouldn’t have been as much fun, Rob and Rie’ for introducing me to opera so many years ago, my Portland peeps Rach and Jer, Aaron Kather, Ehren Valme, Becky, Barbara Brophy, Katy and Cork, Jordan and Nicolette, Juliana, Ms. Botos, Princeton Opera Comapany, Carolyn Dwyer, Prototype Opera, Alexis Arnold, Daniel Rosenberg, Academy of Vocal Arts, Camille Mola, Bill Buddendorf, Andrew Rohe, Orpheus PDX, Christopher Mattaliano, Jessie Bodell, Renegade Opera, Madeline Ross, Heartbeat Opera, Daniel Scholsberg, Ethan Heard, Opera Philly, Frank Luzi, The British guy who got me front row to see Lise Davidsen, the polite and silent audience companions, Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Portland Opera, National Opera, SFO, Verona Opera, and all the players and singers and people behind the scenes that make opera so special to me and so many others.