I Give You My Home is an opera-film interpretation of the world premiere chamber opera with music and an original libretto by local composer Beth Wiemann that was shot on location at the Nichols House Museum (Boston, MA), Path of Life Sculpture Garden (Windsor, VT), Saint-Gaudens National Park (Cornish, NH), Naulakha (Rudyard Kipling House) (Dummerston, VT), and Scott Farm Orchard (Dummerston, VT).

The opera is written for soprano, percussion, and saxophone. The film also includes one youth actor. It is sung in English and is estimated to be 45min long.

Inspired by and in partnership with the Nichols House Museum, this project brings to light the efforts of this singular Bostonian woman in dramatic form on the site of the museum, which was her family home. It highlights the efforts and passions of Rose Standish Nichols who, despite her persistence, struggled to be taken seriously by the powers of her time (1872–1960). Her attempts to affect change through the Women’s Peace Movement, Women’s Suffrage and in her professional career are important and striking for their persistence in spite of the barriers.

This opera inspires future generations, to pursue their unique passions and make an impact on their own terms.

We found this project exciting because it highlights the efforts and passions of a true-life, local woman. A large part of our mission is to immerse audiences in profound and culturally focused experiences. This opera film takes inspiration from the beauty of New England in locations from Boston to Vermont and re-imagines through magical realism the true story of this “unsung” local figure and amplifies it with the otherworldly dramatic potential of opera theater and cinematic spectacle.

Any woman can relate to Rose’s struggles . The story of her successes and failures are compelling in profoundly personal ways and inspires questions about the definition of success, and the perception of creative self-employed women then and now. 

– Aliana de la Guardia, Artistic Director of Guerilla Opera