Please join us for an afternoon of beautiful music and sparkling wit as students from the Music and Performing Arts department present scenes from three delightful comic operas at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 13 in Whitley Auditorium. The program is free and open to the public.
Several ensembles from Mozart’s grand buffa masterpiece, “The Marriage of Figaro,” will feature the following students: Andrew Frace, Kimberly Willes, Cara Antosca, Grace McPhillips, Tallen Olsen, Preston Ellis, Michael Tilma, and Aria Gunthorpe. A cleverly conceived score, this music combines ingenious musical figures designed to capture the characteristics of 18th century satire with the most beautifully balanced melodies reflective of the Age of Enlightenment.
Another Mozart favorite, “The Magic Flute,” will be represented with a performance of the First Act Quintet and the brilliant opening aria of the Queen of the Night. Comic opera takes a fantastical turn in this popular and charming singspiel. Performing in this scene are Meris Burton, Perry Medlin, Mike Daly, Meredith Betts, Kelsey Tucker, and Trista Duval.
Finally, our program will be rounded off with an edited version of Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan. In true satiric fashion, this G & S operetta pokes fun at the literary and artistic aesthetic movement of Victorian England. Complete with Dragoon guards, pained and precious poets, 20 lovesick maidens, and of course the sparkling melodies and witty patter songs, this entry is sure to delight everyone. All students from the class will be performing in this part of the presentation. Featured performers are: Amanda Taylor, Andrew Frace, Ashley Hunter, Mike Daly, Maia Wirth, Lauren Adams, Rebecca Johnson, Michael Tilma, Tallen Olsen, Perry Medlin, and Preston Ellis.