Transgender baritone makes debut with New York’s On Site Opera
Last year, Lucas Bouk was a transgender opera singer living as Mr. Liz and performing as a mezzo-soprano. Before that they were Elizabeth Bouk, daughter, wife, mother, and unhappily conforming to a cisgender existence. It’s been a long journey from a conservative upbringing in Rochester, New York, to a trailblazing performance artist in New York, New York. Some of this journey was charted in Bouk’s performance piece, Mr. Liz’s One [wo]Man Show: [Living in the In-Between].
Bouk told Opera Wire, “Being human is complicated and being trans is complicated. There is no ‘right’ way to be transgender. I firmly believe you should express your gender identity in whatever way makes you feel most alive and free. It doesn’t have to look like someone else’s experience. We are all very unique and special as individuals.”
Bouk had an added complication. They were known professionally as a female mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bouk; then as ‘in-between’ Mr. Liz. But now as Lucas Bouk, after testosterone and top surgery, they were yet to perform vocally and publicly as a male baritone. They had some anxiety about the effects transitioning would have on their voice as a performer. Now, Lucas makes his career debut as a baritone with On Site Opera at Little Island at Pier 55, the eye-catching artificial island park in the Hudson River.
He will be singing in On Site Opera’s Tapestry of New York piece, part of Little Island’s NYC FREE Festival and performing Perfect Boy from the transgender story As One. Tapestry of New York will offer two live and in person performances each day, August 14-15 at 1:15 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The running time is 20-minutes.
It marks a welcome return to opera after Bouk’s historic June 2019 turn as the first openly transgender opera singer in a featured role written for a transgender singer in Stonewall, the opera about the 1969 Stonewall riots, which had its world premiere in conjunction with WorldPride NYC 2019.
Learn more about Lucas Bouk here.
ABOUT ON SITE OPERA
On Site Opera offers two days of family friendly and free opera in The Glade, one of the new performance venues at Little Island, August 14 and 15: the New York premiere of the mini opera, The Perfect Pig and Tapestry of New York, a concert of arias celebrating the stories of the city and the spirit of its people. Founded in 2012, On Site Opera is the leading presenter of site-specific operas in nontraditional venues throughout New York City. Rooted in collaboration and storytelling, On Site Opera celebrates the connection between artist and audience through highly curated experiences led by seasoned opera artists and bold and innovative creative teams. To date, OSO has produced 18 operas in as many unique locations to critical acclaim. Each production invites New Yorkers to explore their city in new and unique ways, while cultivating a new generation of opera audiences. For more information, visit https://osopera.org. Follow On Site Opera on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @onsiteopera
ABOUT LITTLE ISLAND
Little Island, a new, free public park pier within the larger Hudson River Park, opened to the public on May 21, 2021, providing New Yorkers and visitors from around the world with a unique green space unlike any other in New York City. Planned in partnership with the Hudson River Park Trust, Little Island was funded primarily through Barry Diller and he Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation through an extraordinary philanthropic gift to the Hudson River Park. Little Island provides a one-of-a-kind relationship between nature and art—a break from urban life and a connection to spontaneity and joy. More info at https://littleisland.org/visit-us
ABOUT NYC FREE
NYC FREE is a one-time-only multidisciplinary arts festival produced by Mikki Shepard. From August 11–September 5, Little Island visitors can enjoy four weeks of free programming featuring more than 460 artists and 160 performances, including 2 distinct performances in The Amph each night, and up to 7 free events 5 days a week.
COVID PROTOCOLS
Unvaccinated guests are asked to maintain a 6-foot distance between individuals not of the same party and wear a mask or face covering when coming into close contact with others. A mask or face covering will be required inside public restrooms.
