BLOG: Season in Focus: The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keat’s The Snowy Day is not only familiar by name, but by the distinct imagery. A young black boy in a bright red winter suit against the white landscape of a winter’s day. Within opera, sound and color are harmonious in a way that might not seem obvious to audiences but greatly enhances the stylistic elements and cohesive storytelling. The adaptation of the infamous children’s book into an operatic stage production has pushed the boundaries on what can be done creatively and musically within the artform. As well as challenged the traditional content and subject matter of opera with a child as the protagonist.
Historically, the prominent depictions of black identity and experience within media and art have centered around themes of struggle, trauma, and death. The Snowy Day resists these stereotypes, highlighting Black joy and celebration through the eyes of young Peter. The sensory details within the production from bright colors to the whimsical score allow audiences to live in the shoes of a child for a few hours. Excitedly, Minnesota Opera’s production of The Snowy Day will feature a full orchestration for the run of the show featuring an astounding 46 musicians!
The reorchestration of the production parallels the recreation of the book into an opera, focusing on the sense of bliss and simplicity that Keats embodies in his work. The full orchestration not only magnifies the scope of the production but aims to mirror the scale of the set design and the seemingly endless snowy landscape of Peter’s world. Sound will fill the theater space to reflect the grandness and wonder at the story’s center. Building a strong relationship between the visual and auditory elements is at the heart of this adaptation of The Snowy Day.
MN Opera’s full orchestration will give musicians within future productions and opera companies more opportunity and flexibility in performance range. As an organization, MN Opera is committed to singing every story and representing people of all backgrounds in authentic and positive ways. We hope you join us for our production of The Snowy Day that will be sure to captivate you in childlike wonder and delight.
Join us for The Snowy Day, on stage at the Ordway February 8-16, 2025!