Eastman Opera Theatre: Silent Light

Silent Light (2019), by Paola Prestini and Royce Vavrek
Sung in English with supertitles

Patrick Diamond, director
Timothy Long, conductor

Facing themes of infidelity, crisis of conscience, and self-destruction, this opera is set within a Mennonite community in northern Mexico. Johan, a devoted husband and father, faces a profound challenge when he develops feelings for another woman within his conservative cohort. The writers share that Silent Light is “a story of people trying to do their best.” As this is a foley opera, sound effects are an integral part of the performance, serving to enhance an audience’s experience by using objects and tools (as opposed to instruments) to create realistic sounds that correspond to the actions on stage. “Our students have the great fortune to live inside the minds of two prominent creators and current ‘opera influencers,’ Paola Prestini and Royce Vavrek, through this innovative opera,” Long states.