Introducing the ODM Opera Journal!

To our ODM audience,

I am so excited to be announcing a feature of Opera de Metro very dear to my heart: the Opera Journal. In this first installation, I’d like to share a little bit about what the Opera Journal is, and what you can expect to see from it in the future. I would also like to take this opportunity to share a little about the founding of ODM, which has been an absolute whirlwind, but one of the most exciting endeavors I have ever undertaken.

In a very early brainstorming session, when Opera de Metro existed mostly on scraps of paper littered on my desk, filled with lists and questions, one such list was focused on education and accessibility. To me and so many of my friends and colleagues, an interest in opera is a given. We chat endlessly about what opera houses are programming this season, or about singers and their roles, about our teachers, our arias, auditions, and it goes on and on. However, as “the musician in my neighborhood,” to turn a phrase from one of my undergraduate professors, I am most excited when I get to share my passion for music beyond my professional community. My favorite experiences are inviting friends, colleagues, and neighbors to their very first opera, and then afterward hearing how incredible they thought it was, how powerful or funny or moving. 

These are the experiences that have convinced me that opera is for everyone, that these stories still resonate and take root in the hearts and minds of a 21st-century audience. I am committed to contributing to opera as a living art form; I want Opera de Metro to be innovative in programming classic and well-loved works in creative ways, as well as programming new works that showcase how this art form has continued to grow and evolve. I want our audiences to know that whatever experiences they may have had with opera in the past, this art is for them, and for everyone in our community.

To that end, I’m excited to start the Opera Journal. This space will provide a platform for me and my colleagues at Opera de Metro to offer additional perspectives and insights into opera, both relating specifically to the shows we offer each season and more broadly to the genre and industry as a whole. Content may range from deep dives into the story and origins of The Gift of the Magi, to what Singspiel is, to audition tips for emerging artists. My goal is to create additional space for our community to explore opera, to ask questions, and find meaning and connection in this powerful art form. If you have topics you’d like to see addressed or questions you want answered, let us know! This space is meant to serve you, our audience.

This desire to create community within and around opera is also a key pillar in the founding of Opera de Metro. I have had countless conversations with friends and colleagues about the desire to see more opera in our city. We know that there are incredible artists in Detroit, and we believe that the Metro Detroit community is hungry for incredible art. In the last few months, we came to this exciting conclusion: we have the power to create art and opportunity ourselves.

The founding of Opera de Metro has been a whirlwind. It started with a single conversation, a single suggestion that this is the right time and the right place for a new venture. At first, I was hesitant; this is certainly new territory for me, and one of the largest projects I have undertaken. But as this big new idea was further discussed and explored, it became more and more concrete. As the ODM team came together, each of us full of excitement and determination, this company became real. We each bring something unique to the table, and we offer the expertise we have while embracing the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow as artists and professionals. I am confident that this season and beyond, we will create extraordinary art, and contribute to our community in a profound way.

We are so excited to have you along for this journey. We are dedicated to creating art that excites and inspires our community, and that offers a platform for the emerging artists of Detroit. The response so far has been incredible. We heard outstanding singers in auditions for our first show, we look forward to collaborating with many of the beautiful venues in Metro Detroit, and we have received support and mentorship from several exceptional professionals around the city. We are confident that there is not only room in Detroit for Opera de Metro, but keen desire and interest in our success. 

Again, thank you for being a part of Opera de Metro. We don’t exist without you, our audience, and we look forward to seeing you very soon. We cannot wait to share our first show, The Gift of the Magi, with you, and we are so excited for everything to come. 

On a personal note, thank you Olivia, for your confidence, creativity, and professionalism. Thank you Jake, for your generosity, enthusiasm, and humor. Thank you Kellan, for your vision, devotion, and support. This is going to be a wild ride; I’m so lucky to be diving in with each of you.

This is about to be an incredible season, and it’s only the beginning. I am so excited for what the future holds, and so grateful to this community for embracing us. We promise to give you our very best.

With gratitude, 

Madeleine