Response to Weissglass Essay...Nico Muhly-Naturalism vs. Abstraction in Opera

I enjoy the fact that you know and state what you like in musical theatre-a higher dedication to the happenings on stage remaining “in-world,” as you put it. With this in mind, I commend you for giving Nico Muhly the creative respect to try and marry the traditional role of the aria with more modern inclinations. While his attempt was not successful in your estimation, you are still excited to see what comes next for him because you recognize his passion for music. I think this is so crucial because we have to uplift each other to continue our craftsmanship, even if one project seems to have fallen short of the mark. I recently watched At Eternity’s Gate (2018) with Willem Dafoe and Oscar Isaac playing Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, respectively. When they first start a friendship, Gauguin is thoroughly unimpressed by Van Gogh’s artistic output, but he pushes him to keep going and try new things. When Van Gogh does eventually reach a level of fame before his untimely passing, Gauguin makes sure to write his old friend to tell him how proud he is. This is the kind of support that fosters great art and people to share it with, who come from different backgrounds with various tastes. If we open our expectations to a more accepting form, we force the trope of the “elitist art community” down the drain. I see you doing the same for Muhly here, and I think that’s to be acknowledged.