North Columbus News

Opera Columbus and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University are collaborating to present an opera adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s novella, “The Old Man and the Sea.” The performances will take place on October 10 and 12 at the Wexner Center.

Julia Noulin-Mérat, general director and CEO of Opera Columbus, said, “When Beth Morrison Projects first pitched ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ I immediately knew it was the perfect piece for our first collaboration with the Wexner Center. What captivated me was how it blends cinematic video design with a meditative score – it feels as much like an immersive art installation as an opera. Partnering with the Wexner Center for the Arts and Ohio State makes perfect sense because this production lives at the intersection of opera, film and contemporary art.”

Elena Perantoni, senior producer at the Wexner Center, saw the show in Chapel Hill last year after its original run in 2023 at Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium. She described her reaction: “I was floored. This is contemporary opera. It is engaging in the way we want contemporary art to be: a commentary on our current lives and our world.”

The 90-minute opera was created by Paola Prestini, Royce Vavrek, and Karmina Šilec. It adapts Hemingway’s story about a fisherman’s quest for one final catch while incorporating themes of aging, legacy, and humanity’s connection to the ocean.

Perantoni emphasized that internal and external partnerships made bringing this performance to Columbus possible. The production is co-presented by Opera Columbus and the Wexner Center, with Beth Morrison Projects producing it. Within Ohio State University, both the Office of Academic Affairs and School of Music were involved in supporting and developing this opportunity.

Gaëtane Verna, executive director of the Wexner Center, said: “This breathtaking production is a perfect extension of the many ways in which the Wexner Center for the Arts supports students and faculty. We are committed to inviting and ensuring that our campus communities are engaged with every part of the multidisciplinary contemporary works of art that we carefully choose to present. Co-producing with Opera Columbus and receiving the invaluable financial support of the Office of Academic Affairs was essential to our ability to present and share this bold and captivating new original production from Beth Morrison Projects, which reimagines Hemingway’s iconic story from a new perspective.”

Music students from Ohio State had opportunities to participate directly in this project. Perantoni explained: “In addition to the four main characters, there is a chorus of 16 people. Many of those roles are cast locally, including from the School of Music. The others are community members with ties to the university – alumni, faculty, staff and others.”

Increasing student access to artists remains a priority for Perantoni: “How can we bring students in to see how artists work? How can we bring artists to classrooms to talk to students? We’ve had a lot of luck with that kind of engagement. We look for every opportunity where students can engage with artists. It’s a core part of the Wexner Center.”

Sidra Bell—a graduate research associate in dance at Ohio State—has worked as an artistic collaborator on this production since its early stages in 2023; she has consulted for director Karmina Šilec since 2015.

Bell noted how each city’s performance takes on local character through its chorus: “It’s exciting that every city has a different chorus,” she said. “The leads stay the same. The show becomes this web of new perspectives.”

Unlike traditional operas where performers remain mostly stationary on stage, actors in this production move around pools filled with water as part of their performance.

Perantoni acknowledged some logistical challenges: “There is quite a bit of water on the stage,” she said. “That’s a technician’s worst nightmare. Microphones and electrical cords don’t mix with water. Luckily, Beth Morrison Projects has already figured this out. We’ve kept everyone safe.”

Bell also addressed safety concerns regarding choreography involving water: “There’s always risk in movement work,” she said. “To avoid injury, the chorus is organized in a specific way and follows a specific path.”

Audience members need not worry about getting wet during performances; Perantoni assured: “No water comes off the stage,” she said. “There’s no splash zone.”

Reflecting on her academic journey at Ohio State as it relates to her work on this project Bell added: “Ohio State has this reputation of being on the cutting edge of dance,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunity here.” She continued: "I’m taking a music history class and we’re getting into origins of opera," she said."I’m actually practicing things that we’re talking about in my classes.It’s amazing.I’m very lucky."