At the top of the world, everything counts: Portland Opera's production of "Everest" * Oregon ArtsWatch

"An icy, snow-bound route, leading up to the top of Mount Everest (29,031 feet) is the setting for , an opera presented by Portland Opera at the World Trade Center Theatre. But this is not your typical opera production. Instead of live singers on the stage, operagoers see enlarged, animated cartoons of the climbers and hear recorded voices of singers and the orchestra. It might sound artificial, but the performance of Everest that I experienced on opening night (December 12) was completely engrossing and convincing."

"Originally directed and designed by Brian Stufenbiel for Opera Parallèle and Dallas Opera in 2021, Everest is based on the real events of an ill-fated ascent of Mount Everest in 1996. With highly evocative music by English composer Joby Talbot, thought-provoking lyrics by librettist Gene Scheer, and vividly expressive illustrations by Mark Simmons, Everest places the audience into a magnificent yet ultimately disastrous journey undertaken by Rob Hall, Doug Hansen, and Beck Weathers."

"The sound - originally designed by Miles Lassi and done in the Portland Opera production by Brian Mohr - perfectly synced the prerecorded voices and orchestra, conducted by Nicole Paiement, with the projections designed by David Murakami. As a result, the entire performance sounded live rather than recorded. You could have sworn that real singers were standing just behind the backdrops."

Set on a snow-bound route toward Mount Everest's 29,031-foot summit, the opera Everest stages enlarged animated projections of climbers with prerecorded singers and orchestra. Joby Talbot's evocative score and Gene Scheer's thoughtful lyrics dramatize the 1996 ill-fated ascent by Rob Hall, Doug Hansen, and Beck Weathers. Mark Simmons's illustrations and David Murakami's projections create vivid visuals while Miles Lassi's original sound design, adapted by Brian Mohr, synchronizes prerecorded elements to sound live under Nicole Paiement's conducting. Performances by Nathan Grannar, Sasha Cooke, Kevin Burdette, and Hadleigh Adams convey heroism, sacrifice, and poignant final moments on the mountain.

Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News