Friday, December 1, 2023, Alisa Jordheim, a denizen of lyrical delight, returned to Amarillo and treated a lucky audience of Amarillo Opera afficionados to an evening at the Amarillo Country Club that featured songs from the halls of Englands William II to Deck the Halls.
Amarillo’s first encounter with this up-and-coming young opera starlet with an already immense performance repertoire from all over the world, was as Gilda in AO’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto. Her performance dazzled, and, being Verdi, elicited tears in abundance.
So, we here in the Comancheria were thrilled to have her return, and her recital validated the wait.
A native of Wisconsin, Alisa hails from a Norwegian lineage, which would inform both her graduate work as well as the evening’s performance. Her collaborative pianist was Sunyon (Sunny) Kwang, now associated with AO and Amarillo College. The hour plus program was estensive and varied, and a select number of the works are noted.
The songstress began with two Baroque works by Henry Purcell: Music for a While and Sweeter than Roses, which showcased the rich emotionial textures of Alisa’s voice. Purcell’s work, btw, influenced The Who, according to bandmember Pete Townsend. Who knew?
She sang categories or from collections of certain composers. From the cylce of Bernstein’s Five Songs for Children, I’m a Person Too struck an authentic chord. This short work, sung as a young girl, reminded all about the need to listen to our children, for their observations and thinking have some of the most profound implications for our lives.
Of course, this veteran of operatic stages from Boston to Bangkok treated the audience to opera: two pieces from Puccini and one and then some ad hoc from Verdi’s Rigoletto. Eric Barry, now known as the Panhandle Pavarotti and Jordheim’s costar in Rigoletto revealed that he’d already been asked several times that evening whether the two of them would reprise their sparkling duet froim the opera. He related that it was such a good idea that they’d already decided to perform it. And they did: Adio resulted in thunderous applause.
Tonight’s featured attraction made no mention of these facts, but a more extensive bio disclosed that she is a Fulbright Scholar, holds a Doctorate of Music Performance, and studied at the University of Oslo. Her graduate specialty of Scandanavian songs was on display as she sang four songs of Edvard Grieg who set two of the works to poems by Ibsen, and one each to poems by Goethe and another by Bodenstedt.
These works, ethereal and transporting, are rarely performed. That we, in Cowboy Country, were privileged to hear these songs, makes us the lucky ones!
Naturally there was an encore. Jordheim chose a work by Flanders and Swann, A Word on my Ear, or, as it is more commonly known, I’m Tone Deaf! This song gave both the singer and the accompaniest unlimited license to ham it up, which they did. The best way to end any perforamance or presentation is with the audience laughing with you!
It was a privilege to have Alisa Jordheim perform for Amarillo Opera’s special event, testimony to our local love of opera and the arts here on the High Plains. Special thanks go to the artist, “Sunny” Hwang, Eric Barry, Mary Jane Johnson, General and Artistic Director of Amarillo Opera, and the event sponsors, Dee and Ott Miller.
Not only the supporters of AO, but with all of those who advocate for all the arts we say, in this season of celebration,
Keep Amarillo Artsy!
Keep Austin Weird!
Keep Lubbock in the Rear View Mirror!!!
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Keep Amarillo Artsy 
Another great article. Thank you.
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