Happenings at Skylark - July 2021

Photo by David Carey

Go 4th and Celebrate!

All of us at Skylark Opera Theatre wish you a Happy 4th of July. It’s time to get out and celebrate America with all of our friends and families. We hope your day is a spectacular one!

Skylark’s summer of performances continues, too. Skylark for Seniors performances this month are scheduled at the Martin Luther Campus in Bloomington, and in Savage at Fen Point.

Our performance at the Ebenezer Ridges Campus in Burnsville was a great success—seniors enjoyed the singing by our amazing performers Bergen Baker, soprano; Laurel Armstrong mezzo-soprano; and Justin Spenner, baritone (pictured, photo by David Carey). They were accompanied by Carson Rose Schneider, the music director for Skylark for Seniors. It was a glorious Saturday afternoon in a beautiful, intimate setting.

Kicking Off Skylark Memories

You will be seeing Skylark Memories posted on our Facebook page for your enjoyment beginning the week of July 26. Audio clips of memorable arias and songs from Skylark productions and memories about the performances will be showcased as part of our postponed fortieth season celebration.

A Skylark memory from Board member Ann Spencer: “Opera isn’t a museum piece; it touches us in the here and now. In 2018, Skylark produced As One, a two-singer opera about a transgender woman’s journey from childhood confusion to authentic identity, with tour-de-force performances by baritone Luke Williams and soprano Bergen Baker. At one of the post-show talkbacks, an audience member stood up and said, ‘I’m trans. Every word of this opera is true. This is MY story!’”

Please join us by sharing YOUR memories of Skylark performances—was there a special song, a favorite performer, a wonderful scene from one of our productions? We would love to hear about it from you. Our e-mail address is backstage@skylarkopera.org.

Supporting Skylark Opera Theatre While You Shop

Did you know that you can support Skylark Opera Theatre when you shop online with Amazon? Designate Skylark Opera Theatre as the non-profit you love and Amazon will donate to us, all at no cost to you. It’s easy and another way to support Skylark Opera Theatre. You can check Amazon Smile out at smile.amazon.com

Skylark Connections

The St. Croix Valley Opera has announced a Summer Vocal Institute scheduled for July 26-30. The faculty for the inaugural class includes Skylark Opera alum Jennifer Eckes. The multi-talented Jennifer has appeared in countless Skylark shows going back more than 15 years. Most recently she was the choreographer for Skylark’s production of The Most Happy Fella. You will find more information about the Summer Vocal Institute at www.scvopera.org/summer-vocal-institute.

Justin Spenner, who recently starred in Skylark's productions of The Most Happy Fella and Cosi fan tutte, is about to release a fascinating multi-discipline production of Schubert's song cycle, Die Winterreise. The work, entitled I Enter as a Stranger, removes the romantic narrative from Die Winterreise and focuses instead on the poetic themes of mental illness. Music, dance, photography and film merge to tell this moving story of neurodiversity. Also featured in the project is Carson Rose Schneider, a frequent Skylark music director and accompanist. Further information at www.sparrowlive.com. Our congratulations to Justin on this imaginative undertaking.