In the essay below, titled "A Journey to 120 Voices," soprano Ofelia Adame Williams takes stock of her nine years as a Houston Grand Opera Chorus member. Written days before HGO opened its currently running production of Giuseppe Verdi's REQUIEM, where Williams performs in the chorus, "A Journey to 120 Voices" is a vivid portrayal of the ups and downs of her life and HGO career; but, nonetheless, it is incomplete. Williams has in no way ended her journey with the grand opera house.
While the longtime chorale vocalist appears in HGO's presentation of Giuseppe Verdi's REQUIEM, Verdi's composition of mourning and celebration after the death of his good friend, the Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, soon (in April) she and her fellow HGO choristers perform GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, the final installment in Richard Wagner's epic Ring Cycle.
In many ways I am still the doe-eyed college graduate stepping into the Wortham Theater for the first time. It was near the end of spring in 2007, and I was looking for the next step in my musical career. I trembled with nervous energy, about to audition to become a part of what I've come to discover is one of the top choruses in the world. My bright red dress blazed with the confidence that utterly lacked within my body as I stepped into the vast room that would become so familiar during future rehearsals. I headed towards the accompanist, who smiled reassuringly at me as I handed over my sheet music. My steps echoed as I took my place in the crook of the piano. I introduced myself to my future chorus master, Richard Bado, and announced my audition selections.
Working through the fluttering nerves in my stomach, I felt the world blur and fade into the background as I moved through the motions and emotions of the character. I felt the character inhabit me, borrowing my voice and body to get her message delivered. Once the audition was completed, I smiled politely, thanked Maestro Bado and company for their time, and exited the room with only the slightest of nervous tremors in my stride. The most nerve-racking part was waiting to hear a response, which I received in the mail later along with my first contract: Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERO (A MASKED BALL).
Nearly a decade later, in my 9th season as a chorister with the Houston Grand Opera, I have again returned to Verdi. At this moment, we sit on the precipice of opening the Verdi REQUIEM, considered by some to be his greatest "opera," with the largest operatic chorus ever assembled by the Houston Grand Opera. The delicate nuances between the gentlest of pianos and most thrilling of fortissimos will be achieved using this scale of chorus and perhaps, maybe, accomplish the work as Verdi envisioned it in his own mind. Having the opportunity to recreate this piece along with the finest of opera companies and artists has been an amazing and thoroughly rewarding experience that we are extremely eager to share with the public.
The range of emotions that we go through during the piece can be overwhelming. I started these rehearsals with a heavy heart and spirit. The previous year was particularly difficult for my family because we suffered the loss of some beloved members. Unfortunately, I was unable to travel in order to attend their services at the time. It seemed poetic justice that I was to learn and perform one of the best known funeral masses ever composed. A part of me was grateful for it. I had not been able to fully grieve yet. Going through the rehearsals, I slowly pieced together the shards of my heart and soul and let the music wash over and through me to help me heal. I've wept and trembled and found some peace in the power of this work.
The sense of urgency, fear, rage, and hope that pulses through the movements and emanates from the musicians will touch the listener that is open to the experience. For me, this is the goal of any performance. Not solely for the public to rave about the beautiful sounds they heard, but to discuss the way their soul was touched in the way only music can. As Hans Christian Andersen once said, "Where words fail, music speaks." This piece was created to honor someone who meant a great deal to Verdi, now I in turn can perform it to honor those that meant a great deal to me, so that you, our public, can experience it in honor of your loved ones or even just yourself. Come join us in living, breathing, healing, grieving, and rejoicing in the hope that while the mortal shell falls away, the spirit will live on forever, saved and liberated. We all deserve to heal and be made whole. Come and let us speak to your soul.
REQUIEM continues through February 18. Houston Grand Opera, 510 Preston. For information, please call 1-800-626-7372 or visit houstongrandopera.org.
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