The Sound of Identity

The Sound of Identity is an illuminating, insightful, and inspiring 2020 documentary directed by James Kicklighter. It offers audiences an authentic and highly personal behind-the-scenes look into a groundbreaking and revolutionary moment in the world of opera. This riveting musical portrait tells the remarkable story of transgender opera singer Lucia Lucas. It highlights not only her extraordinary talent but also her journey towards making operatic history by singing the lead male role in Don Giovanni, becoming one of the first openly transgender women to perform a principal role in opera.

Lucia Lucas's dramatic, compelling story functions as both the inspiration and subject of The Sound of Identity. Born in Sacramento, Lucia made a move towards a career in opera in Germany and began her gender transition in 2014. Her courage and determination shatter longstanding traditions and shake the opera world in a deeply embedded and conservative art form. The film serves as a beautiful testament to the captivating power of opera, music, and discovering and celebrating one's authentic self.

Throughout the movie, we get warmth and affable insights from Lucia Lucas herself. The camera often turns away from the opera house and delves into the parts of her personal life apart from her transition. This includes her relationship with her supportive wife and her discussions about learning the nuances and pressures being the first transgender woman to hold a leading role in the American opera. There's an impressive contrast in this film between Lucia's personal vulnerability and her warrior-like, sequoia-like presence on stage, which shows how complex and individual everyone's journey can be, even someone as public and groundbreaking as Lucia.

Tobias Picker, the accomplished composer, and Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera (which staged Don Giovanni) also enriches the narrative of the film. Picker boldly chose Lucas for the lead role in the opera, despite the potential backlash. Through his lens, the film examines the world of opera, Picker's own journey as an openly gay man in the opera world, and his hopes for the roles of both LGBTQ+ individuals and body positivity in opera.

Denni Sayers provides directorial guidance for the opera performance and offers another layer of expertise. Her experienced eye and her devotion to the craft and story invite the audience to witness the nuances of opera staging and contribute immensely to the understanding and appreciation of what opera truly means.

The Sound of Identity is an inherently musical film and an exploration of both the power and the tension inherent in performance art. It's a journey that includes Lucia's lyrical and powerful voice singing the baritone roles. It's also steeped in the powerful and dramatic music of Mozart, which provides the backdrop for the film and Lucia's triumphant performance.

Aware of the eyes on her, Lucia Lucas's journey movingly reflects not just her transition but also the arduous process of her preparation for the role, the anxieties she faces amidst groundbreaking visibility, the rehearsal process, vocal coaching, and the heart-stopping final performance. All of these intertwine to create an unforgettable portrait of an artist stepping into her own truth and making her mark on a traditionally conservative stage.

Throughout all of its 98-minute duration, this documentary is both visually and aurally breathtaking. The use of camera work, the shifts in perspectives, the play of lighting and close-ups, and the integration of the opera's music, add an almost palpable texture to the storytelling. As a result, the audience is invited to experience the intimate corners of Lucia's world, her struggles, triumphs, and dreams, in compelling detail.

The Sound of Identity is a stunning testament to the perseverance and extraordinary talent of Lucia Lucas, and the wider acknowledgement and representation of transgender individuals within society and the world of opera. With truth and grace, it illuminates a unique journey while sparking broader conversations about the transformative power of authenticity and acceptance within the arts and beyond.