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Longy Faculty and Alumni Explore Consciousness and Connection in The Onion 

By January 30, 2025News

Thursday, January 30, 2025 

On Sunday, January 19, Longy hosted a free workshop performance of The Onion, a groundbreaking new sci-fi opera. The event took place at Pickman Hall, where audience members gathered at 3:00 p.m. for a semi-staged presentation of the opera’s final act. 

The Onion transported the audience to a mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest, where a neuroscientist, her daughter, and their co-invented creation—the Onion—are at the heart of an emotional and intellectual exploration of memory and consciousness. The Onion allows users to relive memories as if they are happening in the present, and with each use, it develops a personality of its own. The narrative delves into complex human relationships, including the reappearance of the neuroscientist’s ex-partner, summoned through the power of the Onion itself. 

Following the performance, the audience engaged in conversation with composer/librettist Eric Sawyer, director/librettist Ron Bashford, and the cast, comprised of several Longy faculty members and alumni. 

Notable faculty members featured were vocalist Dana Lynne Varga, who recently performed at Carnegie Hall; Corrine Byrne, a renowned soprano with a busy national career; and baritone David Small, who brought over 40 years of opera experience to the stage. 

The cast also included Longy alumni David Thomas Mather, a rising star with a diverse performance portfolio, and Ifeanyi Epum, a renowned countertenor known for his work in early music and contemporary compositions from Nigeria. 

With the combined talent of local and nationally acclaimed artists, The Onion captivated the audience, sparking reflection on the boundaries of memory, identity, and technology even after its final note. 

Check out these photos from the production!