An opera performance that’s perfect for the radio

Opera has been heard on the radio since the beginning of broadcasting, but what do you say to an opera about a radio?

That’s the jist of “The Radio Hour,” a one-act opera by Jake Heggie that reveals the innermost thoughts of a character as she turns the dial to interact with what she hears over the airwaves.

“The chorus fills two roles,” said University of Wisconsin-Superior music professor Michael Fuchs, conductor of the Lyric Opera of the North’s (LOON) performance later this month at the Depot in Duluth. “First, they are the radio. And the other role the chorus plays is the inner monologue of the character.”

Fuchs and Superior actor Christa Schulz spoke with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” about the upcoming production.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Robin Washington: Did the idea to present this by LOON come from someone listening to the radio?

Michael Fuchs: It came from LOON Executive Director Sarah Lawrence, who has her finger on the opera world so well. It really fits perfectly with the kind of company LOON is and the direction that they want to go.

Over the past several years, LOON has really invested in  showcasing the awesome singers we have in the community, with productions that heavily rely on a chorus. This just seemed to be a perfect fit.

RW: What’s the biggest challenge of playing the solo character, Nora? I understand you don’t have to worry about hitting the high notes.

Christa Schulz: Yes, my role is as a silent actress. The biggest challenge for me is going to be not singing along. I’m just acting out what the music is telling me to feel. And that’s a pleasure.

RW: Tell us about the chorus. Who are they and how many?

MF: We have a chorus of 20 members who are by and large members of the Twin Ports community. We have some regulars like Cal Metts, and there are also those who have never sung in a LOON production before. 

Our stage director, Jeff Madison, is doing a fantastic job with his vision and telling the story. There’s one extended section where Nora changes the dial to try to find something that she wants to hear. When she changes the dial, the chorus makes a static sound. And then they sing a jingle that you might hear on a station. She doesn’t like that. Then she changes it again and hears a dance number. And then the radio starts talking to her.

RW: What was your response when you learned about this role in which you didn’t have to sing?

CS: I’m a LOON super fan. I’m excited every time they do a show because I came late to opera and it’s always something new for me. I usually do the supertitles for their shows and I get to listen to the music over and over at rehearsals. It’s really exciting.

If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on “Morning Edition,” send it to us at northern@wpr.org.