Ragnar Kjartansson’s BLISS with Detroit Opera

 
 

Wes returns to Detroit Opera as Figaro in Ragnar Kjartansson’s Bliss, a 12-hour performance piece adaptation of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. From Bliss FAQ: “Bliss is an immersive performance art piece that replays three sublime minutes of The Marriage of Figaro with the same cast and same orchestra without pause for twelve hours. The scene, in which Count Almaviva pleads for, and ultimately wins, the Countess’s forgiveness, features some of the most heavenly music Mozart composed. BLISS creates the feeling of an eternal looped moment of repentance and grace, of free-falling in sublime transcendence in this immersive experience. Bliss will mark the first live performance being performed in the iconic Michigan Building Theatre at 220 Bagley since its conversion to a parking center, breaking a fifty-year performance hiatus in the venue. Audiences are invited to come and go as they please, staying for 12 minutes or all 12 hours, with a ‘pay what you can’ admission. This site-specific re-staging of the work by MOT Artistic Director Yuval Sharon aims to capture a state of wonder as sublime music and a landmark Detroit gem meet.”

Press:
-Detroit Free Press: Michigan Opera Theatre stages lavish, 12-hour show in ruins of old Detroit...
-On the Stuplime: All 12 hours of Ragnar Kjartansson’s “BLISS” at the Michigan Opera Theatre
-In Conversation: Ragnar Kjartansson and Yuval Sharon
-Hour Detroit: MOT to present 12-hour ‘Bliss’ Performance at Michigan Building

DOLORES by Nicolás Lell Benavides and Marella Martin Koch with West Edge Opera’s Aperture

In the wake of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, West Edge Opera launched Aperture, a series in which 8 creative teams as they compete for a $60k commission, and show the public the creative process along the way for all the teams in on online magazine called InFocus. One of the projects is Dolores, composed by Nicolas Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch. Wes essayed the role of union leader, advisor to Robert Kennedy, and ally to Dolores Huerta, Paul Schrade for the most recent edition of InFocus. More about Dolores: “On June 5, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. Kennedy had just won the California primary due in large part to the work of Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers. Dolores is the story of this influential woman who was able to continue the fight for civil rights through the tragedy and disappointment of the loss of her candidate. The composer is a cousin to Huerta and has spent time with her, learning her story, which adds an extraordinary personal element to it.”

Creative Solutions: Virtual Music Lessons During a Pandemic with ArtSmart

 

Being able to continue to connect through music has been so vital this past year. I’m honored to have joined up with ArtSmart as a mentor, providing free voice lessons to teenage youth in our communities. The program was founded to help students succeed in school, giving them the tools they need through music mentoring by setting and accomplishing goals in all areas of life. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all ArtSmart music lessons for the '20-'21 school year have gone virtual. Our students are continuing to thrive! To help us reach more students, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.artsmart.org/donate.

 

Permian Basin Opera Presents THE LULLABY PROJECT

My wife Heather La Kor and I had a great time putting together our cover of James Taylor's “You Can Close Your Eyes” and we hope it brings you some comfort. Special thanks to Permian Basin Opera for the invitation to join the Lullaby Project. Please consider a donation to Permian Basin Opera if you are able. Arts organizations and artists continue to struggle during this difficult time but are still finding ways to create and share content with our audiences.

Ego Actus Theatre Company Presents DOG AND WOLF by Fatherine Filloux

The award-winning international production company Ego Actus will premiere a new Zoom theater festival, SURVIVAL IS INSUFFICIENT, which will be presented live Tuesday nights at 7:30PM/ET beginning October 6. Wes joins the cast of Catherine Filloux’s Dog and Wolf as U.S. asylum lawyer Joseph performing the evening of November 17th at 7:30 PM EST live via Zoom. Register to watch here: register for Dog and Wolf. Read more about the festival in their press release on Broadway World.

Virtual Class for Seagle Festival

 
 

I had a great time joining the Seagle Festival 2020 young artists for a virtual class on crafting characters through music as a 21st century opera singer. Seagle was vital to my development as singer and actor just getting started in the professional world and they have maintained a space where young artists can focus, train, and grow in the breathtaking beauty of the Adirondacks for over 100 years. Please consider a donation to their program today: donate here.