DVD Review: Riders of the Purple Sage, the Making of a Western Opera

Back in 2017 the Arizona Opera premiered a contemporary opera, Riders of the Purple Sage, adapted from Zane Grey's classic Western novel that was first published in 1912. Apparently an entire performance of the opera itself has never been made available on video, but a "making of" documentary, Riders of the Purple Sage:  the Making of a Western Opera is available. It includes several scenes from the performance along with documenting much of the work that was involved in creating what was eventually seen (and heard) on stage.

Grand operas have staged stories of the Old West before--the classic Girl of the Golden West being the most obvious example. Given the place Purple Sage holds in American literature--a story big enough for the legendary American West, the only Western recognized by the Library of Congress as one of "One Hundred Books that Shaped America," a classic battle between the good, the bad, and the ugly--it's a little surprising that more than one hundred years passed before an opera composer and company undertook an adaptation.

Thanks to this documentary, opera fans, theater fans, and fans of the book, too, get a behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of what it takes to bring a new opera to the stage:  writing the script (the "libretto" in opera terminology), composing and rehearsing the music, creating the costumes and scenery. One long section is devoted entirely to the building of the sets, from an acclaimed Western artist's renderings to the hammer-and-nails construction. There are also several segments devoted to the history of the book, including visits to the actual Western landmarks that inspired Grey to create the story of a Mormon woman rancher, the Mormon elders that covet her ranch, the mysterious stranger who rides to her defense, and the unearthing of dark secrets that lead inexorably to the outcome.

Although watching the documentary on DVD isn't a substitute for either seeing the opera or reading the book (or watching one of the several film versions of the book, for that matter), it works as a supplement for fans who'd like to know more. It has something to reward both people who've spent their lives studying theater (and music, especially serious orchestral music) and people who have no clue how much work goes into a live musical theater production. 

Running time:  82 min. 

Website:  https://www.ridersoperafilm.com/

Distributor's website:  www.firstrunfeatures.com