THE LOST VOICES PROJECT
THE MISSION OF NUMI OPERA
Numi Opera exists to reclaim and celebrate diverse and creative voices that might otherwise be extinguished and to rediscover operas that have fallen into obscurity due to social and political injustice. Numi hopes to inspire the opera going community of Los Angeles to give these lesser known works a more lasting presence in the operatic repertoire. Numi Opera is committed to excellence in every aspect of performance, and the accessibility of both artistic style, subject matter, and venue.
Numi opera 2019-2020 season
Performances
DER ZWERG
by Alexander von Zemlinsky
May 30th and June 2nd
Zemlinsky crafted this powerful opera from the short story "The Birthday of the Infanta" by Oscar Wilde. The nightmarish fairy tale concerns the protagonist (The Dwarf) who is given as a gift to, smitten by, and rejected by his love interest (The Infanta), only to discover for the first time his “gruesome appearance”. The story is loosely autobiographical, and echoes Zemlinsky’s own failed love affair with the young Alma, who was to become Alma Mahler. The Opera parable explores themes of innocence, the meaning of true love and beauty, discrimination, social rejection, and crushing loss. After fleeing Nazi Germany and finding a home in America, Zemlinsky’s work remained largely unknown in his new country. Der Zwerg has been performed only a handful of times since its debut in Cologne, Germany in 1922.
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DER RING DES POLYKRATES
by ERICH korngold
December 19 and 22
The musician Wilhelm Arndt seems to have everything going for him: he is happily married to Laura, he has been appointed Hoffkapellmeister, and he has just inherited a small fortune. Only the return of his long-lost friend Peter Vogel could make him even more happy. When Vogel actually returns, he is jealous of Wilhelm’s happiness, and convinces him that in order not to challenge fate, he should sacrifice something. Wilhelm starts an argument with his wife about her former life, but the couple’s love is strong enough to overcome all difficulties. In the end, all agree that the sacrifice that has to be offered is the intriguer that tried to ruin their happiness: Peter Vogel has to leave again.
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