Earlier this month, Dr. Nell Flanders, Visiting Lecturer in Orchestra Studies, conducted and played piano for The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, a new opera by Kamala Sankaram and Rob Handel at New Camerata Opera in New York. The production ran from April 7th to April 10th, and was directed by Jennifer Williams.
This opera, composed in 2019, follows Ada, Countess of Lovelace and Lord Byron's daughter, who has been asked to help Charles Babbage with his work on the Difference Engine. She struggles between her work in mathematics and upholding her reputation as a wife, mother, and public figure.
Immersive cabaret elements and thematically-related repertoire were performed before and after the opera, intertwining multiple pieces into one engaging evening. The cabaret incorporated aerialist work from performer Heather Meyer and Circus Director Nicki Miller. Utilizing the full spectrum of tools for storytelling, the evening provided a transportive trip into the world of Ada Lovelace.
Congrats to Nell Flanders!