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Turan_dot_com t1_it7oeoi wrote

Congratulations on your first opera! I was reading about you and learned you are partially deaf. While you are not the first deaf composer (Beethoven comes to mind), most of the ones I know about are , well, decomposing.

How has this affected your musical palette and approach to composition? I know Beethoven used lower frequencies as he experienced hearing loss and I'm wondering how you approach composing with your unique way of hearing.

P.S. I have friends in San Diego and I told them about your opera and they told me they already have tickets .

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sandiegoopera OP t1_it7smtf wrote

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated!

I had this unexpected opportunity to contribute an opinion piece for the NY Times a couple of years ago talking about the very thing that you ask. May I point you to that article? (Let's see if I can add links here):

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/27/arts/music/beethoven-hearing-loss-deafness.html

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Turan_dot_com t1_it7ubm5 wrote

Thanks for sharing! Off to read it. And it seems there was a NY Times piece on your opera as well. Very cool. Congratulations!

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sandiegoopera OP t1_it7xcwm wrote

Thank you, Turandot!

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eatabean t1_it811t2 wrote

I am a (now) deaf former musician. How can I reach you with an idea I have toyed with for years to illustrate the experience musically? Through you AMA I have just become a fan! Good luck with the premiere!

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