Environmental Opera “Auksalaq” Opens UVA’s Arts on the Hill Series

A Night of Environmental Opera Captivates Audience at UVA’s Carr’s Hill

Amidst a packed venue, the University of Virginia’s Carr’s Hill buzzed with excitement on Monday evening as the Arts on the Hill series kicked off with a thought-provoking performance. The event, hosted by President Scott Beardsley and Claire Dufournet Beardsley in collaboration with UVA Arts, showcased “Auksalaq,” an environmental opera with profound implications.

The series, known for bringing diverse artistic talent to the university, welcomed Matthew Burtner, an Alaskan-born music professor at UVA, who composed “Auksalaq.” The performance paid tribute to Scott Deal, a co-creator of the opera, who passed away earlier this year.

Reflecting on his Alaskan roots, President Beardsley shared anecdotes from his youth, reminiscing about his family’s move from Maine to Anchorage in 1974 during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. “I was remembering what it was like to grow up there, and one of the first things I remembered was my paper route,” he recounted, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the cold yet beautiful Alaskan winters.

Innovative Multimedia Experience Brings Arctic Changes to Life

“Auksalaq” stands out as a multimedia spectacle, integrating Arctic maps, scientific interviews, and a dynamic light show. The EcoSono Ensemble, integral to the performance, used both traditional instruments like the flute and cello and unconventional methods, such as producing sounds by manipulating water and ice. This unique approach includes “sonification,” a technique that transforms digital data into auditory patterns to reveal otherwise hidden information.

The opera’s debut in 2012 faced challenges from the very issue it highlights: climate change. While designed to be performed simultaneously in different locations, Hurricane Sandy forced the cancellation of performances in New York, Washington, and Virginia. However, at UVA, Charlottesville-based vocalist Lisa Edwards-Burrs ensured the show went on, albeit to an empty audience.

Recalling that event, Burtner noted, “One person was there.” Despite the university being closed, the musicians persisted, performing for Michael McBride of National Geographic, who had traveled to attend.

McBride later praised the opera, writing, “‘Auksalaq’ is a significant cultural event that marries science as the brain, art as the heart, and culture as the soul in our search for awareness and sustainability.”