The world premiere of Banks’ opera “Harmony,” with music composed by Robert Carl, was held Saturday night, Aug. 14, at the Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake to not only a sold-out house but to the largest single-night audience in their history made possible by being simulcast to people throughout the region and beyond.

Set in 1908 Keene Valley, the opera is based on the young composer Charles Ives and his beloved Harmony Twichell’s quest for her father’s approval of their desire to marry. Her father, the Rev. Twichell, was disconcerted by his first-born daughter’s wish and asked his good friend and often traveling companion Mark Twain assess Ives’ suitability. Twain did with near-disastrous results.

This love-torn tale was relayed to Banks by his wife, the poet Chase Twichell, Harmony’s grand niece. Bringing it to the stage took over 20 years. The process began with Robert Carl reading Banks’ novel, “Rule of the Bone.” Carl recognized that it was not only a spin on Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” but that it included references to Charles Ives. Curious, Carl’s research into Banks revealed that his wife Chase was related to the Rev. Twichell, whose daughter married Ives.

Intrigued, Carl wrote Banks, learned about the family story, and, as he said, “One thing led to another.” In 2006, realizing that New York City Opera had a program of reading semi-staged excerpts from operas in development, they created and pitched the opening scene of “Harmony” for consideration. It was accepted and performed by professional singers backed by an orchestra. Darren Woods, artistic director of the Seagle Colony of Schroon Lake, was sitting in the audience workshopping another opera.

While “Harmony” wasn’t picked up, Woods remembered being struck by its setting in Keene, not far from Seagle. Years later, learning that Banks lived in Keene, he reached out suggesting they try to bring it to fruition and premiere it during Seagle’s 2020 season. Banks contacted Carl, and they agreed, launching a focused effort to complete the score and libretto. In September 2019, a reading with singers was held at Keene Arts. Little did they know that COVID-19 would hit, delaying the world premiere for a year. Nor did they expect that to be the last live performance presented by Seagle until this summer.

“We have this thing called Death by Aria,” said Woods. “It’s where all of our 16 students sings an aria on the first day, and we cheer everybody on. I knew it would be emotional. Everybody on staff burst into tears when the first person sang. I can’t even describe what it’s like to hear something that I love so much, live music and being denied for a year-and-a-half. I will never take a rehearsal or a live audience for granted again.”

Opening within COVID created another problem. To keep their student singers and staff safe, they cut their student numbers in half, and then half of them were in residence the first half of the summer and the balance the second half. To put on “Harmony” and the other operas and musicals, they had to cut out choruses and make further modifications to accommodate working with fewer singers, giving Banks, Carl and the students an added challenge.

“It’s been fascinating to be a part of this world premiere just because there is no precedent for anything we’re doing,” said Jake Goz, who plays the role of Charles Ives’ good friend and fellow Yalie Dr. David Twichell. “To quote Richard Gagne, ‘We’re flying a plane as we build it.’ We know how rehearsals go. We know how to rehearse a show, but there’s nothing to base it on with a premiere except the score and some mini files. Banks hasn’t written lyrics before, so he’s learning with us, and that’s pretty cool. Darren and I drove up to Keene Valley a few weeks ago. It was neat to see where everything happened.”

Carl, the composer, expressed enormous relief to be closing in on the world premiere 20 years after he and Banks conceived of the opera and all the COVID-related difficulties of staging it this year. He described the last two years as being a bit of an emotional roller coaster with a mix of highs and lows.

“I’ve found the transformation from something on the page to something enacted on a stage quite fascinating,” said Banks. “Plus, I never imagined writing lyrics for an opera before Robert first got ahold on me. It’s been transformational. It’s a huge change and alteration, really. So, it’s quite satisfying.”

If you are a fan of classic opera, “Harmony” will feel different as it’s more narrative, isn’t filled with big arias, and the music plays off the work of Ives, who has had a significant influence on generations composers in multiple genres since. It does have the feel of a 19th-century musical drama, popular at the time. The libretto contains references that those who know the life and work of Ives, Trudeau, and Twain will appreciate, as will those who know Keene as the setting.

Dodie Seagle, whose family founded the festival, loved the performance, hearing all the mountains she climbed being mentioned. Her husband Pete Seagle agreed, saying he loved the acting, music and the story. Renee Cosgrove of Keene Valley said it felt authentic, noting how to locals laughed about references to Canada, the Inuits, and climbing the Great Range in one day. For lead actor Joel Clemens stepping into personal life of Charles Ives at the cusp of his compositional breakthroughs was eye opening, while for Victoria Erickson, who played Harmony, she was delighted to learn that her character and Ives wrote love letters to each other throughout their life.

While the audience gave the creators and performers resounding applause, in many respects, most anticipated response was Chase Twichell’s, whose family story was brought to musical life onstage.

“I’m sorry my family members can’t be here tonight, though they are watching the livestream,” said Twichell. “It’s spooky to see an old family story come to life this way. It was really fun.”

“I’m relieved,” said Banks.

“It’s wonderful to see it come to fruition after two decades,” said Carl.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Darren Woods, “I think we have a hit on our hands. I think the opera will get some legs. With the streaming equipment we purchased because of COVID, we can get the opera out to anyone who wishes to see it.”

There is one more performance available, which can be seen in person or remotely through livestream at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Tickets are available on the Seagle Festival website, www.tix.com/ticket-sales/seaglefestival/5439.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the News for more than 15 years.)