Fire forces opera to move across town
OperaFrom Steve Swartz in Baltimore:
Baltimore, MD – Due to Sunday morning’s underground fire in downtown Baltimore and the resulting loss of electrical power, the Sunday matinee performance of composer Michael Hersch’s new opera, and we, each, was unable to proceed at its original location, Baltimore Theater Project. Miraculously, the intricately staged multimedia production was relocated to 2640 Space, a nearby cultural center, on just two hours’ notice. It took the stage at 5:30 pm, just an hour after its originally scheduled starting time, and played to a sold-out house.
and we, each, an chamber opera in two acts, had its world premiere on Saturday evening at Baltimore Theater Project, where it earned a prolonged ovation from a capacity crowd. On Sunday morning at approximately 3:30 am ET, fire and smoke erupted from multiple manholes on North Charles St. Power was shut off by Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. to allow city firefighters to safely extinguish the blaze. According to city officials, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
On Sunday morning at 11 am, James Young, the co-founder of Mind on Fire, which presented the opera, and James Daniel, the production’s stage director, entered Baltimore Theater Project to prepare the space for the matinee. At that time, they were unaware that the fire had taken place. At noon, the theater lost its electrical power; at 2 pm, Young and Daniel began smelling gas from the former restaurant space on the building’s ground floor. They decided to try to find a new venue for that evening’s performance.
Says James Young, “Power was predicted to come back right at 4:30 pm, but was that true? Then we smelled gas. I called my friends at 2640 Space: a beautiful, repurposed church in North Baltimore to see if they could house us. They could. Our profound bad luck was met with good. Everyone went into action.
“Michael [Hersch], James [Daniel], our stage manager Nina, and I begin immediately loading all of the integral materials into our cars. The musicians texted each other to communicate the change of plans. I got the ticket list from Chris, the manager of BTP, while he dealt with BGE and the fire department. I sent out an email, made some calls, and made an Instagram post.
“Some last-minute volunteers graciously helped set up the new space, including our main projector and lights. Jesse Blumberg, the baritone, was able to arrange his armor and props. Soprano Ah Young Hong, conductor Tito Muñoz, and the musicians were ready and game. The only unknown was the audience. Michael and a volunteer waited outside Theatre Project to redirect guests. And then it happened. Nearly all of our sold-out audience made it to 2640. Luckily, there had been a wedding at 2640 on Saturday, which meant we had enough folding chairs for the audience and some extra lights.
“It was beautiful. And we were all riveted. I am so thankful for this city, for our community who can spring into action for the strangest art and most esoteric reasons. Last night re-illuminated my deep love for Baltimore and the people who call it home.”
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