Opera Without Fear: Key Change Series Finale
Opera Without Fear: Key Change Series Finale
Fans of opera often say that a production either ends in cheers or tears; someone winds up wed or dead. But what about podcasts?
On this final episode of Key Change, co-hosts Anna Garcia and Olga Perez Flora fire up the trusty time machine to find out. And, they’ve got company: OG co-hosts Andrea Fellows Fineberg and Brandon Neal. Buckle in for one last trip around the Opera For All Voices universe before this epic six-year journey comes to an end.
“Key Change has been so many things for so many people, and now it’s over,” says Andrea, reflecting on the legacy that this podcast leaves behind. Perhaps a bit dramatic! But the show has played a vital role within the larger context of Opera For All Voices, supporting new, diverse works for smaller spaces together with major opera companies.
“The things that we do that have a lasting impact are the work of the community engagement department at Santa Fe Opera and the work of the Santa Fe Opera in the first place. It’s changed the capital O art form forever,” Andrea observes. “And, we’ve all been some part of that.” Audience included.
The Key Change team captured intimate moments of the creative process alongside the breathless joys of performance. They chronicled moments with legendary artists (oh, hey Peter Sellars!) and students alike, and revealed the importance of telling hard truths.
“I think that speaks to the longevity of the thing,” says Brandon. “Key Change will reverberate as long as that work needs to be done. I think we can be happy with that.”
Cue curtain.
FEATURING
Olga Perez Flora – Co-Host of Key Change and Associate Professor of Voice, University of New Mexico
Anna Garcia – Co-Host of Key Change and Arts Administrator
Andrea Fellows Fineberg – Writer, Producer, and Former Director Of Community Engagement & Education, Santa Fe Opera, Co-Creator of Opera For All Voices, and Original Co-Host of Key Change
Brandon Neal – Senior Producer of Creative Enterprise Programming, The Juilliard School; Co-Creator of Opera For All Voices and Original Co-Host of Key Change
Santa Fe Opera Young Voices participants – Rylee Baca, Elsa Dhonau-Egan, Landen Kessler, Eleanor Lucas, Ava Mitchie, Alexander Nicholas Neas
University Of New Mexico participants – Maria Bollinger, Quiara Cortez, Alexandra King, Ryan Lopez, Taylor Stanley
KEYCHANGE RECOMMENDED EPISODES
Season 1, Episode 1 – Setting the Stage – wherein Andrea and Brandon start the journey and ask, “What if we fail? What if we succeed?”
Season 1, Episode 2 – What’s in a name? – wherein the back-of-the-napkin planning of OFAV is discussed
Season 2, Episode 2 – A Seat at the Table – wherein Brandon engages in conversation with colleagues of color from across the industry
Season 2, Episode 3 – Bring Your Folding Chair – wherein that conversation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues
Season 2, Episode 6 – The Universe is Made of Stories featuring Peter Sellars – wherein we all bask in the glow of stage director Peter Sellars
Season 3, Episode 2 – Singing a Call to Action – wherein we learn about producing opera during a global pandemic
Season 4, Episode 7 – Telling Hard Truths featuring Jacqueline “Cookie” Hamer Flakes – wherein we listen and take in the words of Fannie Lou Hamer’s daughter
Season 6, Episode 3 – Taking Care of the Art featuring Chandler Johnson – wherein we get a candid look at what it takes to build a career in opera
Season 6, Episode 4 – Rise to the Occasion of Your Opera Career featuring Chandler Johnson – wherein the conversation continues with audition insights most young singers never get to hear
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Opera For All Voices
Santa Fe Opera Community Engagement
Santa Fe Opera Young Technicians Program
Santa Fe Opera Young Voices Program
University Of New Mexico
New Mexico Philharmonic
Opera Omaha
Opera on the Avalon
Olga Perez Flora
Car Talk
QUOTES
“Endings are as important as beginnings. And, it’s okay for things to be over. It’s okay for things to come to an end.” – Andrea Fellows Fineberg
“I think Key Change defies that kind of, you know, binary. It’s not one or the other. It is cheers and tears, but not married and buried.” – Andrea Fellows Fineberg
“It’s hard to put into words how impactful Key Change was and continues to be something I still talk about on a regular basis.” – Brandon Neal
“I really wish that opera companies around this country would wake up to the fact that the communities that they serve are diverse and expansive, and they need to see themselves on stage.” – Brandon Neal
“I think Key Change only disappears when people stop doing the work. And, I know even outside this room, there’s a lot of people out there doing the work and trying to build upon the legacy that Key Change wanted added to.” – Brandon Neal
“Never stop asking the questions. Never stop showing up and listen. And, I think Key Change did a very good job at doing all those things.” – Anna Garcia
“There’s so many good things, great programs that come out of the Santa Fe Opera, great opportunities for people of all ages. And, it really kind of honed me down to how special all those opportunities are.” – Anna Garcia
“I think of my heart and my soul as having these little valves, that these valves get filled, and sometimes they empty a little bit. And Key Change filled a valve that I didn’t even know I had. – Olga Perez Flora
CREDITS
Key Change is a production of The Santa Fe Opera, Department of Community Engagement & Education.
Produced & Edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Anna Garcia & Olga Perez Flora
Audio Engineer Collin Ungerleider & Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe
Technical Director Edwin R. Ruiz
Production Support from Alex Riegler
Show Notes by Lisa Widder
Theme Music by Rene Orth with Corrie Stallings, mezzo-soprano, and Joe Becktell, cello
Cover Art by Dylan Crouch
This podcast is made possible due to the generous funding from the Hankins Foundation, Principal Education Sponsor of the Santa Fe Opera.