The Atlanta Opera Film Studio
Film co-direction: Tomer Zvulun & Felipe Barral; written by: Díaz, Jessica Langlois, Felipe Barral; director of photography: Felipe Barral; executive producers: Tomer Zvulun, Felipe Barral, Ashley Mirakian; narrator: Lois Reitzes; lead cinematographer: Felipe Barral.
Featuring: violinist Helen Kim, soprano Kelly Kaduce, TAO general & artistic director Tomer Zvulun, TAO managing director Micah Fortson, pianist Elena Kholodova, TAO orchestra personnel manager Jim Zellers, percussionist John Lawless, baritone Michael Mayes, conductor Micole Paiement, violinist Angèle Sherwood-Lawless; The Atlanta Opera Orchestra.
Producers: Felipe Barral & Liam Roch; drone cinematography: Felipe Barral; video editor Diana Díaz; sound recording: Felipe Barral; audio mix: Diana Díaz; video hands: Kerry Monzingo & Mary Alexander; TAO Film Studio sonic ID & animation: Felipe Barral; title graphic: Matt Burkhalter.
Filmed on location in Atlanta, Decatur, Kennesaw, Marietta and Waleska, Georgia, June, September & October 2021.
Type: Documentary
Formats: Video stream.
Release Date: 2023
Total Duration: 29:56
William Ford | 1 JAN 2024
The Atlanta Opera is a powerhouse in the Atlanta arts scene. In fact, its Board of Directors recently announced that the budget of the organization had reached over $15 million, which qualifies it to be in the top tier of opera companies in the U.S., joining such renowned companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, and the San Francisco Opera.
Even more impressive is that The Atlanta Opera continues to push boundaries of creativity, musical integrity, production quality, and community engagement. Tomer Zvulun, the company’s General and Artistic Director since 2013, is a major driving force behind that “rising star” status. Israeli-born Zvulun had a stellar career directing opera productions internationally before joining The Atlanta Opera, and his successful leadership here is used as a case study as part of the executive program curriculum at Harvard Business School.
One of Zvulun’s latest initiatives has been the creation of The Atlanta Opera Film Studio, which he co-founded with Felipe Barral. The film studio began, in part, in response to the financial pressures created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many arts organizations, The Atlanta Opera faced losing its audience and ticket revenue due to COVID-related restrictions. It was not uncommon for arts organizations to begin developing digital platforms for their performances to retain as much of their audience as possible (and to reach new audiences) and create alternate pathways for revenue generation. The Atlanta Opera Film Studio has survived the pandemic. It now offers a subscription-based website to access its productions, even as the company has returned to live performances at its Cobb Energy Center home and other venues across the community.
Recently, the Film Studio introduced its 30-minute documentary “Finding Glory Denied.” The title refers to Tom Cipullo’s opera “Glory Denied,” of which the Atlanta Opera’s production was interrupted by the pandemic. The film is narrated by Lois Reitzes, well-known in Atlanta for her unique, measured style of delivery and her long-term association with a local public radio outlet, where she has hosted various programs related to classical music. Also featured in the documentary are interviews with professionals associated with The Atlanta Opera’s production of “Glory Denied,” including conductor Nicole Paiement, members of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, Zvulun, and members of the artistic and production staff.
The documentary begins with Reitzes recounting the early days of the pandemic and proclaiming that it would change life forever. This voiceover included scenes from “Glory Denied.” Interviews with members of the orchestra and singers drove home the message that, indeed, life did change for them. Each recounts interesting takes on the meaning of the life interruptions caused by pandemic restrictions. How will I pay my bills? Did I choose the wrong career? Can I be a stay-at-home parent preparing three meals a day and providing at-home schooling while still trying to hone my skills as a musician? Will we ever get back to doing what we love?
Good questions all, and certainly not unique to company personnel.
Yet The Atlanta Opera attempted to keep their passion for opera alive, with its innovative series of outdoor operas staged under a tent, with masked singers performing in large transparent booths, while masked audience members sat in pods at a discreet distance from each other, after having been temperature checked upon admission. This is what had to be done to keep the music and the audience alive, but it was done with style and integrity.
Soprano Kelly Kaduce, during filming. (credit: Felipe Barral)
Even though that troubled time might have receded in our memories, it’s important to revisit the toll pandemic restrictions took on our lives and on our children’s education and development. Vivid recollections of that time are captured here and are an important archival record of the personal and financial devastation that pandemic restrictions. Maybe when another pandemic hits, we can look at this video and remind ourselves what we might anticipate. And maybe, just maybe, we will be more thoughtful about our approach.
Much as we blundered our way into and through the pandemic, we have blundered our way out of it. Who anticipated the devastation to our city cores as workers fled offices? Why has traffic remained snarled even though fewer workers are commuting? Did anyone consider that being unhoused would be another symptom of the pandemic? Why has school discipline deteriorated?
“Glory Denied” album recording session at KSU by The Atlanta Opera Orchestra. Seen on camera monitor: baritone Michael Mayes. (credit: Felipe Barral)
No one documentary can address the myriad of issues related to the shutdowns but Finding Glory Denied makes tangible the losses many experienced. The firsthand accounts of these creative individuals are powerful “rearview mirror” reminders of our shared trauma.
On a technical level, the documentary is beautifully photographed by Felipe Barral and includes some impressive drone shots. The scenes of the happily reunited Atlanta Opera Orchestra rehearsing are exhilarating from both the sound and cinematography perspectives. The film is also tightly edited, and the interviews are sharply focused.
Finding Glory Denied is a powerful reflection of the recent past, and it reminds us that our passions can survive, even in challenging circumstances. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- The Atlanta Opera Film Studio: stream.atlantaopera.org
- The Atlanta Opera: atlantaopera.org
Read more by William Ford.
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