I love the performing arts and the Upper Valley abounds with world class music, drama and more. For that reason, I was shocked at how pedestrian Alex Hanson’s recent article about two opera performances opening this month made it all seem (“Opera companies ready to resonate this year,” July 21). Insert ho-hum emoji. The article featured both Opera North, which is celebrating its 40th year in the Upper Valley and the Berlin Wagner Group, whose New England-born singers are visiting New London from Berlin, Germany.
While I am not familiar with the Berlin Wagner Group, I do know Wagner’s Ring cycle, which the group plans to reduce from four multi-hour performances to one. However, the article certainly did nothing to engender my enthusiasm for this visiting group.
I admit to being a fan of Opera North, which I have been attending for at least two decades. Why else would I have agreed to chair the board of trustees?
As a local aficionado, I would like to express my feeling, shared by many others, that Opera North is a woefully underappreciated treasure here in the Upper Valley. When I was urged to go to my first performance many years ago, I doubted that Lebanon, however delightful, would be where I could find opera performances of a high caliber. I was woefully wrong, and the productions have become increasingly brilliant over the years.
Summerfest, the summer music festival at Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish, in collaboration with the National Park Service, should be on everyone’s radar, opera fan or no. On the shores of the Connecticut River overlooked by the majestic Mount Ascutney, the shining tent is everyone’s “Midsummer Night’s” dream of a venue for world-class music of several genres, not just opera.
On behalf of all of us who support the wonderful art scene here in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, I respectfully ask Valley News to give our performing arts their due appreciation. It is not the number of words that counts, but the genuine sentiment they convey.
Barbara Butler
Woodstock
President, Opera North Board of Trustees
Charity Clark knows
the AG’s responsibilities
The travesty of Jan. 6 sends a clear message that we need elected officials with integrity, honesty and commitment to the rule of law. None more so than in our attorney general. Charity Clark brings eight years of experience working on the front lines of that office: fighting for the environment, consumers and small businesses.
Charity’s experience across all divisions as the attorney general’s chief of staff, gives her extensive understanding of the issues facing the attorney general, legislature and people of Vermont. As AG, she will address the challenging issues of substance use, reproductive health, domestic violence and climate change.
I met Charity a decade ago when she spoke to a group in Chester, Vt. From my first conversation, I was impressed with her both as an individual and as a public servant. A life-long Vermonter, she is smart, thoughtful, and compassionate. She works tirelessly to support Vermont communities as a parent and volunteer.
I was inspired when Charity used her own resources to make it possible for a child to travel to Vermont to be reunited her family. She followed up with the collection of clothing and toys for this Brattleboro family.
Charity grew up working at her family grocery store in Londonderry. The valuable lessons she learned stocking shelves and serving customers were the foundation for the strong, competent person she is today. She has never forgotten her roots and she understands the challenges of concurrently parenting, working and serving others .
Charity has the leadership skills, experience, integrity and commitment to be a strong attorney general. She will tackle common sense criminal justice reform and fight for reproductive freedom, accountability of companies, protection of our environment and our right to privacy. Vote for Charity Clark in the Aug. 9 primary and Nov. 8 general election
Nancy M Davis
White River Junction
Hartford gets it wrong on The Haven
It appears that Hartford officials has struck The Haven again. First they nixed The Haven’s informal hot lunch takeout service. Now it appears they have told The Haven they must have a connector road between two parking lots which would then leave no room for the low barrier shelter The Haven has planned, which is badly needed. Shelter or paved driveway: Which in these difficult times is needed more?
Come on Planning Commision, stop behaving like “pea brained” bureaucrats and start using good old New England common sense. You know why “bureaucrat” is a dirty word, right? Well don’t prove it to be true. Approve the low barrier shelter and forget the connector road.
And, while you’re at it, let The Haven pass out a little hot lunch. The Haven is an essential organization in our area. The Planning Commission needs to stop arbitrarily hindering them from doing their good and essential work for the Upper Valley.
Nancy Parker
Lebanon