Matthew Aucoin is 26 years old, an age where many composers are still “finding their voice.” But for him, that’s never been a problem. “I feel I had a voice early on — most clearly in opera,” he said in a recent telephone interview. “If a text spoke to me, it just sort of exploded into music automatically. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. For me, it’s been all about learning what technical things I can do to let that voice speak. That takes a lifetime of refinement.”
Aucoin, who has been widely acclaimed as a rising star as both a composer and conductor, is spending his summer at the Music Academy of the West. His varied duties will include teaching classes and conducting the annual opera production, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride. In addition, he will lead a performance of his own family-friendly opera, Second Nature, Tuesday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m., at the Lobero Theatre.
Second Nature was commissioned by the Lyric Opera of Chicago, correct?