New Recording Of Opera Colorado’s ‘Scarlet Letter’ Released

<p>(Photo: Courtesy Opera Colorado)</p>
<p>A scene from Opera Colorado&#039;s “The Scarlet Letter.”</p>
Photo: Opera Colorado Scarlet Letter
A scene from Opera Colorado's "The Scarlet Letter."

Now, listeners will have a chance to spend more time with Laitman's music, through a newly released recording of Opera Colorado's production.

As CPR News reported in 2016, "The Scarlet Letter" opened after six years of development. David Mason -- a former Colorado poet laureate -- penned the libretto, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel from 1850.

Greg Carpenter, Opera Colorado's general director, said working on the new opera gave the company a newfound sense of confidence. Opera Colorado later brought "As One," a chamber opera about transgender issues, to Denver. And the company plans to stage more new operas in upcoming seasons, including the world premiere next January of "Steal a Pencil For Me" by composer Gerald Cohen.

Revisit CPR's feature on the making of "The Scarlet Letter," as well as Colorado Matters' interview with Mason.