Elizabeth Finley, Midland

"Midland, the Home of the strong and hard working. Men and women hustling and bustling working to provide for their families. Now imagine these same men and women relaxing, drinking their favorite beverage, enjoying serene sounds and surprisingly booming pitches of 4 very talented opera singers. I know, this picture is hard to imagine in little old West Texas, at least it was for me. However, I was privileged to attend the Permian Basin Gala this past week.  I dressed in my fanciest gown and dolled up the best I knew how. I made my way to the gala, and I had no idea what to expect.

When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the venue’s ambiance.  Because lighting affects my eyes, I noticed the lights were warm and not overwhelming. Each round large table was draped with a soft gold tablecloth.  All the chairs were dressed in black covers, as if also prepared to enjoy the night. The stage was an adequate size that allowed intimacy between the audience and the performers. It was decorated with white, delicate, sheer drapes, simple but elegant. The guests were provided with an option of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. We were presented with a tasty meal course. A crisp starter salad, juicy chicken seasoned just right, and a blueberry whipped cream cake that I vacuumed up with delight! Announcements were made about the silent auction and the raffle for a $500 HEB gift card for groceries which soon became a popular item! Katie Osuampke, the organizer of this Gala and many alike, announced that all donations and money gained from the items during the event would be put back into expanding the arts in Midland Texas.

Now for the grand event. The four performers, Anisa Kureishi, Jonathan Rhoades, Yamni Guevara, and Jon “Dirk” Ross. They were all Wonderful! No, I am not a professional in the arts of the opera, but I do have ears. Albeit, I have some hearing loss in my right ear, thanks covid, but I can still hear, and when I tell you they sounded beautiful that is not an exaggeration. No mic needed, just raw emotions and powerful God given voices. Anisa Kureishi allowed her soprano voice to peak elegantly with such force that I felt it penetrate my skin pushing the hair on my arms to attention. She held herself with grace and took us on a journey of highs and lows. Yamni Guevara, sang with valor and surprised me with a lovely song in Spanish that made me feel fiery emotions, as the song was about deceit. Guevera performed a fun and flirty song with Jon “Dirk” Ross. They both sang and danced like two birds in the spring. Ross gave context to several of his other songs, allowing the audience to join in the imaginative stories he shared with us. His baritone voice boomed and sounded authentic when he sang. His movements and expressions made it seem as if I was fluent in the foreign language he used to serenade the woman for which the song was written for. Last, but certainly not least, Johnathan Rhoades, he performed several songs and all were done with zeal,  but the one that stood out for me, was sad, and it was meant to be sad. The song was full of bitterness and loneliness, no, not a joyful bouncy song, but a true emotion that many of us feel. I appreciated how he passed on all the sorrow of the man who hated the stars that seemed to mock his solitude. 

The event was Definity full of emotional twists for me, and I loved it. It pulled me out of my mundane routine- work, church, eat, sleep- and gave me something more. For a while, I was no longer in the flat lands of West Texas, but emerged in the Journey of talented singers, each one bringing to life stories etched in time.  This experience will leave a lasting impression on my mind that will forever define how I now see Opera, A Journey in music given life by those who passionately embodied the characters and their stories."