Bienvenido from Director & Co-composer, Molly Sturges

When Andrea Fellows Walters of the SF Opera approached me last year about creating a community opera about Santa Fe I knew that we had a rare creative opportunity. After speaking with over a hundred individuals and organizations around Santa Fe, I realized there were few opportunities to bring people together across the lines that separate many of us in this town. The project would be about multiplicity- it would grow from the insights, expressions and stories of each individual involved. It would unearth both differences and commonalities. It is not representative of all of the communities of Santa Fe. Only a little amazing slice of the pie.

Cuando Andrea Fellows Walters de la Opera de Santa Fe se acercó a mi, para crear un proyecto comunitario sobre Santa Fe, supe que tenía una rara oportunidad creativa. Después de conversar con mas de cien individuos y organizaciones en Santa Fe, me dí cuenta que había pocas oportunidades para acercar a la gente cruzando las barreras que nos separan, a muchos de nosotros, en este pueblo. Este proyecto sería sobre la multiplicidad – crecería desde las entrañas, expresiones e historias de cada individuuo involucrado. Desenterraría tanto las diferencias como las semejanzas. Este proyecto no es representativo de toda la comunidad de Santa Fe. Solo de una asombrosa, peque ña rebanada del pastel.

I started by gathering together a diverse team of heartfelt professional artists. We each invited several people that we knew in Santa Fe to participate. A community ensemble formed. There were no necessary qualifications. There were no auditions. As we gathered that first Saturday in a room at The College of Santa Fe Music Dept. no one knew what to expect. After doing several large scale projects of this kind in other cities I did know one thing- I could trust the process to reveal something absolutely radiant and inspired. It takes time, flexibility, and the willingness to weather the many voices around who say, “I just don’t know what you are doing.” Thanks to all those who believed in the project at critical times and kept the momentum going.

Comencé juntando un diverso equipo de artistas profesionales y sinceros. Cada uno de nosotros invitó a varias personas que conocía, en Santa Fe, a participar. Se formó un grupo comunitario. No hubo requisito alguno. No hubo audiciones. Cuando nos juntamos ese primer domingo en un salón del Departamento de Música del Colegio de Santa Fe, nadie sabia que esperar. Después de hacer grandes proyectos de este tipo en otras ciudades, sí sabia una cosa – Podía confiar que el proceso me híba a revelar algo absolutamente radiante e inspirador. Se necesita tiempo, flexibilidad y la voluntad para guiar todas las voces que a mi alrededor exclaman: “simplemente, no sé lo que estas haciendo”. Les doy las gracias a todos aquellos que creyeron en el proyecto en tiempos cr íticos y siguieron adelante.

We could never have predicted how playful, meaningful and tender this project has become. People tell me their faces have hurt from laughing so much. We have worked together for four months and during that time we have developed into a unique kind of family. The project also grew through weekly workshops held at Alameda Middle School and Santa Fe Cares Nursing Home. Though the future of the project, after these performances, is unknown, we feel that we have just begun.

We offer you a performance which weaves together community building, rigorous investigative creative processes, all the fantastic tools of opera, and the very beginning of what we hope is a lasting dialogue about the inequalities and prejudices that separate us and the shared humanity that joins us. It is made from the courage, hard work, commitment and shared risk of all involved. I hope this is a first step to a healing so badly needed.

Les ofrecemos una obra en donde todos tejen la construcción de una comunidad, un proceso de rigurosa investigación creativa, todas las herramientas fantásticas de la opera, y el comienzo de lo que esperamos sea un dialogo duraredo, sobre las desigualdades y prejuicios que nos separan y lo que nos une como una humanidad en su conjunto. Esta hecho del corage, trabajo duro, compromiso y el riesgo que compartieron todos los involucrados. Yo espero este sea el primer paso para subsanar lo que tanto necesitamos.

It has been the greatest honor to do this project. Thank you to everyone who has made this happen. And to the Memorylines ensemble- Santa Fe is forever changed for me because of you - I see more, I hear more, I feel more and I know less. Thank you for being willing to go on this journey with me. I hold you in my heart!

Hasido un gran honor el haber hecho este proyecto. Les doy las gracias a cada uno que lo ha hecho possible. Y al grupo de “Memorylines”, Santa Fe para mi, ha cambiado para siempre gracias a ustedes – Yo veo mas, Yo oigo mas, Yo siento mas y Yo sé menos. Gracias por estar dispuestos a emprender esta jornada junto a mi. Los llevo en mi coraz ón.

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