Houston Press: ‘Scalia/Ginsburg’ is ‘delightfully funny,’ ‘achingly emotional’

A sold-out production of Derrick Wang’s opera Scalia/Ginsburg, performed by Opera in the Heights at the Holocaust Museum Houston, opened on June 2, 2022 and concludes June 5, 2022.

The Houston Press writes: “It is a cleansing blast of air to hear Opera in the Heights’ production of Derrick Wang’s beguiling…opera Scalia/Ginsburg…. This is ecumenical non-partisanship with intelligence, wit, verve, style, and an utter sweetness of purpose.”

On the score:

[Derrick Wang’s] own [musical] voice…is tuneful, jazzy, extremely pleasing, and surprisingly moving. Scalia’s remembrance of his father’s immigrant journey to the U.S. and what he taught his son, “He Built Stairs,” is immensely moving…. The final duet between Scalia and Ginsburg, “We Are Different, We Are One,” is achingly emotional — like the best of any opera — summing up their loyal friendship despite their opposing views. There is such hope and love in it.

On the libretto:

Wang’s never-ending rhymes cascade through his opera, always one step ahead of us, delightfully funny, boundless in invention, in perfect cadence. They’re in clever juxtaposition to his [score], adding the right amount of music hall to this jaunty, yet serious, work.

Overall:

The entire one-hour production is briskly paced by [stage director Josh] Shaw and, especially, Wang. They see to it that we never lose interest.

Who knew civics class could be so enjoyable, so musical, so endearing?

The full Houston Press review can be found here.

Pictured: Dane Suarez (tenor), Tyler Putnam (bass-baritone), and Sydney Anderson (soprano) in the Opera in the Heights production of Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg. Photo credit: Pin Lim.