Enigma Chamber Opera

Enigma Chamber Opera is a Boston-based opera company that emerged as a significant presence in the city's arts scene at the end of 2019. The company's inaugural production, Benjamin Britten's "The Turn of the Screw," was met with critical acclaim and sold out audiences early in 2020. The Boston Globe's AZ Madonna praised Enigma Chamber Opera as an "auspicious arrival in the Boston arts landscape," expressing anticipation for the company's future endeavors. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, leading to a global shutdown that affected the performing arts industry. Despite these obstacles, Enigma Chamber Opera adapted by creating an online production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Impresario" during the summer lockdown. This one-act opera, which humorously addresses the struggles of staging operas, including financial constraints and the egos of performers, was reimagined to reflect the additional complications imposed by social distancing. With the uncertainty of the pandemic making it difficult to plan in-person performances in 2021, Enigma Chamber Opera had an epiphany to produce "Curlew River," one of Britten's church parables. This decision sparked a commitment to stage all three of Britten's church parables with a consistent "core troupe" of performers and designers. The trilogy is set to conclude in 2024 with the production of "The Burning Fiery Furnace." Enigma Chamber Opera prides itself on being a small, flexible company comprised of a core group of seasoned professionals, including artists, designers, conductors, singers, and a director. This collective expertise allows the company to assemble high-quality productions with an average of just eleven days of rehearsal, thereby reducing costs. The company's productions are designed to be portable, enabling performances to be easily transported to various venues worldwide. Plans for international festival appearances were in the works before the pandemic intervened. The organization is led by Kirsten Z Cairns, the Artistic Director and Founder, who oversees the artistic vision and direction of the company. Enigma Chamber Opera invites support from patrons through tax-deductible donations, which are crucial for the continuation of their work. Those interested in staying updated on Enigma Chamber Opera's activities or supporting the company can sign up for their mailing list or make a donation. Further information and contact details are available on their website, with the team reachable at team@enigmachamberopera.org. [Photo credit: Robert Henderson, "In Praise of Darkness and Light," The City, 2019]