More than Friends-A triptych on Queer Love through the Ages.
Although I generally like traditional grand operas, as long as it is not Wagner, I wholeheartedly adore Lowbrow Opera Collective’s efforts to de-museumify opera, get young singers and musicians as well as living composers and librettists a chance to perform, modernize and simplify opera. Lowbrow’s latest production at the venerable 18th and Union, More than Friends, consisted of three one-act operas about friendships, which were more than platonic. One common theme was that each friendship was undergoing deep conflict, although each one-act took place during a different historical era. 
Thirst
Thirst composed by TJ Rubin with a libretto by Laura Barati and directed by Molly Andrers, opened with two young women sleeping, or rather one was an insomniac who keeps getting up to quench an insatiable thirst with water. The music, played on an electric keyboard punctuated the ensuing argument between the two dramatically. It appeared that the water was a symbol for some sort of addiction, and caused a complete rift between the two. Christine Oshiki as Jaq had a lovely voice.
Emily and Sue
Was about the “friendship” of American poet Emily Dickinson and Sue Gilbert. In late adolescent the two became very close through long walks in the wood, and reading poetry together. They exchanged letters when Sue, a math/science teacher, was away in Baltimore teaching. Although they remained close friends, Sue did not return Emily’s feelings and married her brother, Austin.
The opera opens right before Sue marries Austin, as Emily recites her famous poem, “I could not stop for Death”. The composition by Dana Kaufman was percussive with the singers singing a capella. Their rhythmic singing suggested the beats and meters of poetry.
Directed by Eliza Woodyard and Ashley Biehl it was sad and tragic, foreshadowing an unhappy marriage between Sue and Austin. Again Christine Oshiki as Sue stood out with her excellent soprano voice, Kirby Burgess as Emily exuded the vulnerability of a person suffering from unrequited love and Robin Wyatt-Stone as Austin portrayed a dispassionate puritanical New Englander to a T.
Achilles and Patroclus
As we all know Achilles was the great warrior for the Greeks in the war with Troy, lesser know is his great friend and perhaps lover, Patroclus. Although scholars for many years have debated whether they were just close combat comrades, it is significant that in Classical Greek, there are not words delineating Heterosexual and Homosexual, and men were very often very bi. 
Throughout the one-act, the two go through various stages in their relationship, in a sort of tango of togetherness and repulsion. One very interesting conflict is whether Achilles is willing to engage in battle for Agamemnon and Menaleus. The ponderous music, composed by Erika Meyer, suited the subject matter of this great event-the siege of Troy.
Eric Angus Jeffords, a Heldentenor if ever there was one, as Patroclus, really fit the bill.
In spite of some of the singers not having the best diction, this is a fabulous production, and it is a delight to see opera evolving rather than fossilizing.
More than Friends. A Typtych on Queen Love through the Ages. 18th and Union. 1406- 18th Ave. Central District, Seattle 98122, Thu, Fri, Sat-7:30 pm. Sat. May 27, 3pm. Sun June 4, 3pm. Closes June 4
Street Parking or the #48 Bus along 23rd Ave. #8 bus along Union, from Capitol Hill Light Rail Stop. (Only 8 blocks if walking)
Alexandra’s café is two doors down, excellent Pizza on Thursday and Friday nights. https://alexandrasmacarons.com/
Tickets: https://v6.click4tix.com/event-details.php?e=431613