The Sacred in Opera Initiative

Summer 2022 Newsletter

In This Issue

Words of Welcome from SIO Chair, Casey Robards

SIO Editorial Board: Call for Submissions

The Three Hermits, by Stephen Paulus:  A Personal Reflection

Forgiving the Unforgivable: a Central Theme in the Holocaust Opera Eva and the Angel of Death, by Thomas B. Yee, Composer, and Aiden K. Feltkamp, Librettist

Words of Welcome from SIO Chair

Casey Robards

“Sacred: the power, being, or realm understood by religious persons to be at the core of existence and to have a transformative effect on their lives and destinies. Other terms, such as holy, divine, transcendent, ultimate being (or ultimate reality), mystery, and perfection (or purity) have been used for this domain.”

Above is an excerpt of the Encyclopedia Brittanica definition of "sacred." No wonder the marvel, drama, and even demands of operatic expression combine so naturally with the sacred in our lives and experiences.

As Chair of the Sacred in Opera Initiative of the National Opera Association, I invite you to learn about SIO and consider joining us at the national conference; submitting an article, interview, or review to our online newsletter; or participating in our committee conversations. We invite your interest, questions, and involvement.

In future newsletters, I will spotlight our committee members in a personal profile to introduce them and share how and what drew them toward this initiative.

We are preparing for a discussion about Islamic opera in a breakout session at the NOA National Conference in Houston, Jan 2023. If this is an area of expertise, research, or curiosity, we would love to talk further with you before the conference!

Mission Statement
As an ecumenical support project, The Sacred in Opera's mission is to gather those interested and involved in sacred music drama for the exchange of ideas, study, performance, and camaraderie.

Our Vision
The Sacred in Opera seeks to promote the creation and performance of representations depicting the spiritual quest in opera form.

Become Involved
By joining your efforts with ours and that of National Opera Association, we can . . .

•promote the spiritual and religious in opera to our audiences.

•provide another opportunity for singers and other artists to use their gifts.

•encourage all artists in their religious quests.

Projects & Opportunities

•Online networking of ideas, resources, and support

•Online newsletter/discussion group

•Annual meetings and workshops at the annual National Opera Association National Conference

Dr. Casey Robards
The Sacred in Opera Initiative of the NOA, Chair
Assistant Professor in Keyboard/Vocal Coaching, University of Illinois
Conductor, Head of Collaborative Piano, Bay View Music Festival

From The Editorial Board

Article Submission and the Peer Review Process

Although traditional print journal and monograph publishing is still alive and well, non-traditional forms of publishing such as the Sacred in Opera Web and Blog based format can serve as wonderful supplements or alternatives to traditional scholarship. Web based publications such as ours can enable the broadest possible readership of your research outputs and become an important way to maximize the dissemination and impact of your findings. In order to better serve our community members, the SIO committee continues working diligently to refine its formalized peer review process for the vetting of article submissions and materials to our newsletter. We welcome you to visit our updated submission criteria found in the SIO pages of the NOA website. We are always interested in hearing from potential contributors and supporting the good work you are doing in the field of Sacred in Opera. Let us hear from you.

The current list of the SIO Committee and Editorial Board includes:

The Three Hermits, by Stephen Paulus:  A Personal Reflection

By Keith Brautigam



As a Christian college voice professor and opera director for over three decades, I am always on the lookout for a sacred story that engages the performers and audience in multiple layers of thought and self-reflection long after the performance. I know I am not alone in this continuous quest! This past year, as Director of Education at the Heartland Sings Vocal Arts Institute in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I was approached by the President, Robert Nance, to direct the company’s production of "The Three Hermits" for our first annual Vocal Arts Conference in June. I was only familiar with the exquisitely profound choral piece, "Pilgrims' Hymn," so I was anxious to learn more about this one-act sacred opera composed by Grammy award-winner Stephen Paulus based on the short story by Leo Tolstoy. I soon discovered a work that "checked all of the boxes!"  continue . . . 

Forgiving the Unforgivable: a Central Theme in the Holocaust Opera Eva and the Angel of Death, by Thomas B. Yee, Composer, and Aiden K. Feltkamp, Librettist

By Kathleen Roland-Silverstein



The Holocaust, one of the defining events amongst many such genocides of the 20th century, and the culmination of centuries of antisemitism (but not the end), has inspired an abundant response of creativity in the arts. Literature, song, opera, and film continue to be created from this seemingly inexhaustible source. Stories are told from numerous points of view of a horrific shared experience, yet each story is unique. The stories share a common thread: man's inhumanity to those deemed different and inferior. The singularity of Eva’s story in the opera, Eva and the Angel of Death, arises from two threads: that Eva and her sister Miriam were the subjects of Dr. Joseph Mengele’s infamous twin experiments, and that Eva ultimately forgave her tormentors.  continue . . .