Opera that invites ‘everyone in’
Transgender singer the first to star in production about transition, life’s big questions
About five years ago, mezzo-soprano Liz Bouk went to the premiere of “As One,” a chamber opera about a transgender woman’s transition.
“I didn’t have tickets, so I had to wait in this long line, and in the line, I met my first transgender person,” Bouk said. “It was a trans woman, and for the first time, she was wearing women’s clothing in public. And we had this long conversation, and I was in tears.”
Bouk shed more tears at the end of the piece, which explores the character’s journey to find her true self as she transitions. Two singers play the role. Hannah Before, whose part of the story includes childhood, is sung by a baritone; Hannah After is sung by a mezzo-soprano.
“I watched the opera, and I was so moved,” Bouk said. “And I just kind of filed that experience away — this is a moving piece. I felt inspired to find my best self — that’s kind of how I left the premiere performance.”
Flash-forward to 2019. “As One” is now one of the most produced operas in North America, having received nearly 30 stagings since 2014. And Bouk will be singing Hannah at least twice this year: first in Alamo City Opera’s production on Saturday and Sunday, and then in November at the WOW Café Theatre in New York.
Bouk, who came out as transgender about a year and a half ago and identifies as male, is the first transgender person to perform in the piece. That adds an additional layer to the way he approaches the role.
Vital info
Alamo City Opera production of “As One”
8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Buena Vista Theater, downtown campus, University of Texas San Antonio, 501 W. César Chávez Blvd. $15-$50 at brownpaper tickets.com; alamocityopera.org.