Tanisha Mitchell celebrates many years of presenting Opera Talks and takes us behind the scenes with thoughts of gratitude

It was 2015 and I was promoted to hire presenters for the art lectures and classical music series at the Freeport Memorial Library. I was so excited to earn that opportunity. Immediately, I learned all that I could about art and classical music. Although I was already an opera singer with a music degree, I wanted to learn what I was about to do with the programs that were already booked by two library employees who were retiring. They were quite supportive of me taking over their tasks. One of the library programmers turned 100 years old that year and was passionate about classical music. Belle Sylvester began the Classical Music Programming in the 90s and built an excellent rapport with the community throughout the years.

      During that year, I attended a classical music program about conducting and the presenter was an older white gentleman who presented at the library for years. The videos were recorded by someone else and placed on a DVD. The speaker would comment about each performer and stiffly walk back and forth from the podium to the DVD player to start and pause each clip. The information was fascinating and at that moment I said to myself: “I can do this with opera.”

     After the event, I thought long and hard about the program I just attended at the library. At that time, I interned at the Metropolitan Opera in the music library and was hired to do special projects. I was also named one of Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers for my work at the Metropolitan Opera and the Opera Orchestra of New York in 2013. I was at the Metropolitan Opera for five years and learned a lot about behind-the-scenes techniques and other rare knowledge in opera productions. I believed that somehow, I could create programming with not only what I knew as a singer but also what I knew as a music librarian and archivist. I was very nervous because I never saw anyone that looked like me present opera lectures. I had many doubts about embarking on this new journey. I wondered if I would be hired, and would my programming be enough for the audience? With encouragement from my mom and one of my colleagues, I mustered up the courage and forged ahead.

     I began to work on a prototype presentation called Opera 101 for people who didn’t know about opera. During my work, I realized that I needed to come up with a name for these presentations. I reached out to my friend who was also a musician and a website developer. “You need a logo…” she frankly stated. That didn’t bother me because I created a logo with a chandelier. The chandelier represented elegance like opera, and I used it because I didn’t want to be cliché and use curtains or opera glasses. I wanted something that everyone curious enough to be interested in the programming would gravitate to and understand. The chandelier clipart I chose was elegant but clunky and hard to replicate. But I kept it for the time being while my friend worked on a new logo. I came up with the name “Steps to the Stage” because I wanted to present more than the opera but what it took to create it. My intuition inspired me to incorporate the rare items I cataloged at the Metropolitan Opera Music Library over the years. I spoke to the Chief Librarian at that time, Robert Sutherland about my idea. He was very supportive and gave me the opportunity to create facsimiles of some rare material for me to incorporate in my lectures. My friend designed the new logo, and it became the new symbol of opera programming with a new spin.  The new logo was a simplified chandelier with elegant font for Opera: Steps to the Stage. I loved it so much because it represented what I was thinking and who I am as a founder and presenter. Within a few weeks the website was ready.

     Marketing for the program was not easy at first. I had no budget and had to research how to market with little money. I researched the libraries in Nassau County and created an email list. I also created post cards with the new logo and the few programs that were ready to present. I only had three programs to offer: Opera 101, Opera in Ebony- Tribute to Black Singers and Goyescas by Granados. The marketing proved to work because within a few weeks I presented at my first location in Garden City on November 22, 2015.

     All of my scheduled opera lectures abruptly cancelled in March 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown. However, it proved to be a blessing in disguise. Around the same time, I researched software for webinars and learned about Zoom. Before the software became ubiquitous for remote programming that year, I learned as much as I could to offer opera programming online. That year, my business grew to virtual programming and gained new locations on the East Coast. For the first time, I presented at places I never visited. It was a meaningful experience to connect to people online during a difficult time in the world. I was honored to help people escape through beautiful music and history. In 2020, I changed the company’s name to Opera Talks. While I use the same logo, I believe Opera Talks is a simplified way to describe what I love to do through live and virtual formats and will serve as an appropriate name for future projects.

     Today, Opera Talks has over 27 opera programs covering operas, themes and icons with an additional series called I Hate Classical Music. IHCM boasts 6 programs that all include an animated orchestra for audience interaction.

All my programs grew from being presented at local libraries in Nassau County to libraries and other locations in Suffolk County, New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida within a span of 8 years. A company highlight was when the Metropolitan Opera Guild invited me to present Opera Steps to the Stage as a part of the 2019-20 Metropolitan Opera season. I continued to partner with the Metropolitan Opera Guild even during the pandemic after the opera company’s closure for over a year. Opera Talks also touches the lives of many attendees including the Jewish Community Center, residents at Atria and Bristal Senior Living locations and extended learning programs at local colleges.

       Never did I imagine where opera would take me in 8 years. It is always a privilege to share my gifts through Opera Talks. I look forward to more opportunities and touching the hearts of those within the sound of my voice. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change it at all. I am grateful for the direction that Opera Talks is going and am excited about the future. Thank you.