By Lady Calle
Music can help tell a story in a powerful way and make a big impression. That’s exactly what happened to me during a performance of Act III from The Crucible by Robert Ward, which I saw at the Manhattan School of Music on February 26, 2025. This opera is based on a famous play by Arthur Miller and it shows how fear and lies can hurt innocent people. The music made the story even more emotional and intense. After learning more about the composer, I understood it in a new way. It was my first opera experience and it left a deep impression. The voices, the orchestra, and the drama all came together to make the story even more powerful. It was my first time seeing an opera live, and it left a strong impression on me. The combination of music, acting and staging made the story feel real and unforgettable.
The concert took place in Neidorff-Karpati Hall at the Manhattan School of Music. Formerly known as the John C. Borden Auditorium, this hall is the school’s main performance space. The venue had a formal and warm atmosphere. It felt like a special place, but not overwhelming. There was a full audience of students, faculty, families, and opera lovers all paying close attention. I didn’t feel out of place as a newcomer. The environment was serious about the art but welcoming to everyone. The program featured two major piece, first Act III of Robert Ward’s opera The Crucible, and lastly Negro Folk Symphony by William Dawson. Both performances were stunning in their own way and powerful but The Crucible stood out to me because of the of the strong story and how real everything felt through the music. The act takes place in a courtroom during the Salem witch trials. John Proctor one of the main characters, admits he cheated on his wife, Elizabeth. She is brought in to testify, but lies to protect him, not knowing he already told the truth. Because of that, things go wrong and he ends up being accused himself. It’s a really sad and powerful moment, and Robert Ward’s music makes you feel all the pain,
conflict, and emotion of that scene.
The performers made the opera feel truly alive. Grace Christensen, who played Abigail had an amazing, powerful voice—high, clear and full of emotion. Her singing showed how tricky and controlling her character is, making her presence on stage intense and believable. Blake Stevenson who sang John Proctor had a deep and sad voice that felt very real, especially when he admitted he had done something wrong. The orchestra, led by conductor Andrew Grams, played with great sensitivity and expression. When the story got tense, like when Elizabeth lied to protect her husband the music turned shaky and nervous, matching the emotional pressure of the scene. In the louder, more chaotic parts, all the instruments came together with force, making you feel the stress and emotion building in the room. The production was directed by Felicity Stiverson, whose choices helped bring out the drama in every scene. Together the singers, orchestra and staging made the performance unforgettable.
This performance wasn’t just impressive because the singers were talented, but because it touched me in a powerful way. Each performer really became their character and showed it through the music. Even though this was only a concert version of the opera, without costumes or a full stage set, I could still feel the story and emotions just as strongly as if it had been a full production. The second piece, Negro Folk Symphony by William Dawson, had a different kind of emotional strength. It was purely instrumental, not vocal, but it still told a story through music. The symphony was full of feeling and inspired by African American spirituals and musical traditions. The orchestra played it with passion and heart, and I could hear the history and hope in the melodies. The contrast between the two pieces, one serious and tragic, the other more comforting and touching made the concert feel complete and meaningful. Experiencing both side by side helped me appreciate how different styles of music can express such deep emotions in different ways.
After the performance, I was curious to learn more about the composer. Robert Ward (1917–2013) was an American composer, conductor, and teacher. According to his biography on “The National Endowment for the Arts, 2013.” Ward is best known for writing the opera The Crucible which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1962 “”The Crucible (Opera).” Wikipedia Wikimedia Foundation”. He was born in Cleveland Ohio and studied music at the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard. According to the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources like Wikipedia, he wrote most of his music during the 1950s and 1960s and also worked as a leader in several music schools. Ward became an important figure in American opera. People appreciated his music because it expressed strong emotions but was still clear and easy to follow. You don’t need to be an expert in opera to understand what the characters are going through and that’s exactly how I felt while watching Act III.
I loved this, so I definitely had to watch it again. I listened to a recording of The Crucible on the Manhattan School of Music Website. performed by the MSM Symphony Orchestra, where I had originally attended the live opera. This time, I focused more on the music and the small details. I
noticed how the strings changed when Elizabeth lied, and how the rhythms matched Mary Warren’s panic. The live version felt more intense and emotional, but listening to the recording helped me understand the music better. I could pause and go back to certain parts. It felt different, not better or worse just deeper. Like reading a book a second time I understood more, also realized I had changed as a listener. After learning about the story and the composer I knew what to pay attention to. That helped me enjoy and appreciate the music even more.
To conclude this performance changed how I think about opera. The singers were very talented, but even more than that, they made the audience feel something real. They wore costumes, which matched the serious story but the performance itself didn’t feel too fancy or distant. It felt honest
and real. That’s what surprised me the most, that something this big and dramatic could also feel so personal and true. Act III is especially powerful because it uses music to show deep emotions like fear, guilt, love, and truth. You don’t just watch the characters, you feel their confusion and pressure as if you were right there with them. This was my first opera experience, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. I would absolutely see these performers again and now I have a new appreciation for opera as an art form. It’s not just about big voices or fancy music it’s about telling stories in a way that touches people. This act is special because it uses music to show deep feelings like fear, guilt and honesty. It helps the audience feel the pressure and confusion the characters are going through. long after it ended, and I would encourage anyone to see it, especially those who think opera isn’t for them. Believe me, it is. Opera can be powerful, emotional and completely unforgettable
Citations
“MSM Symphony Orchestra Presents Opera in Concert Act III of the Crucible and William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony.” Manhattan School of Music, 20 Feb. 2025, www.msmnyc.edu/performances/opera-in-concert-act-iii-of-the-crucible/.
“Robert Ward.” National Endowment for the Arts, www.arts.gov/honors/opera/robert-ward. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
“The Crucible (Opera).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Oct. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible_(opera).
