"The Brightness of Light"

Saturday, October 8, 2022 - Lane Thoelcke

The Brightness of Light

by Kevin Puts

Starring: Renée Fleming, Rod Gilfry, Enrique Mazzola, and the Lyric Opera Orchestra

On Saturday, October 8, the Lyric Opera Chicago premiered a new work by Kevin Puts titled The Brightness of Light. The piece is inspired by letters sent between the artists Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz; and titled after this quote from O'Keeffe: “My first memory is of light -- the brightness of light -- light all around.”

Important Note

I am not a professional reviewer or critic. I am using this space to share my thoughts and experiences.

Beautiful and Haunting

In 1916, painter Georgia O'Keeffe and photographer Alfred Stieglitz begin a correspondence. What starts with a request from O'Keeffe to Stieglitz to view her drawings, turns into an obvious and poetic attraction between the two artists through their letters shared to one another. As time progresses, it's obvious that Stieglitz is unhappy in his marriage and has become enamored with O'Keeffe. In 1918, O'Keeffe moves to New York, where Stieglitz resides and they quickly begin living together. In 1924, they marry each other. Beginning in 1929, O'Keeffe begins to regularly visit New Mexico, the place she would eventually make her permanent home. Throughout the tribulations in their marriage, and their extended times apart as O'Keeffe regularly stays in New Mexico while Stieglitz remains in New York, they continue to write to each other. The libretto of this piece follows this journey in their correspondences and from the chosen letters and the feeling of the music, you can feel that these two artists have a deep love for each other, but their relationship is not easy. The letters and the music together make a beautiful but haunting piece.

Thoughts and Reactions

I must preface that I have never had the opportunity to attend an opera. I've been to Broadway shows and rock band concerts, but this was my first event that I believe could fit within the confines of being called opera. If I'm incorrect, I'm happy to be corrected. But I'm giving you this thought of mine because for me, this concert was unusual. I certainly enjoyed the evening, but the structures I usually expect with lyrics and music were not present in this piece. Everything about the show was beautiful, but I could not anticipate where the music was going, where Renée or Rod's next notes would be. That inability of mine to anticipate the next moment was almost uncomfortable, but that is what made this piece so extraordinary to me. The mixture of the letters, the music without the structures I expected, the absolutely amazing musical talent of Renée, Rod, and the orchestra, and images of both O'Keeffe's paintings and Stieglitz's photographs in the background create a sonically and visually stunning piece of artwork from Kevin Puts, Renée Fleming, Rod Gilfry, Enrique Mazzola and the Lyric Opera Orchestra. It really was a night worth a standing ovation.

A Word of Thanks

I was able to attend this event with tickets from the Lyric Opera and Senior Director of Communications, Holly Gilson. Renée Fleming also recently joined the show that I produce called Show & Tell with Andrea Darlas on WLS-AM 890. I send my sincerest gratitude to Holly Gilson, Renée Fleming, Andrea Darlas, and WLS as they are the reason I was able to attend this wonderful evening at the Lyric Opera.