Opera students to perform in Alkek
吃瓜官网 opera students invite the public to a free performance this Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alkek Fine Arts Center.
Selections for the evening include an extended scene from Mozart鈥檚 鈥淢agic Flute," arias from 鈥淭he Elixir of Love鈥� along with excerpts from Gershwin鈥檚 鈥淧orgy and Bess鈥� and Aaron Copland鈥檚 American masterpiece 鈥淭he Tender Land.鈥�
吃瓜官网 opera instructor Rick Rainey hopes the audience 鈥渨ill release their imaginations and join us as we see these characters journey through the pursuit of love, fear of rejection, overwhelming happiness and great sorrow.鈥�
Unlike a choir performance, opera is blocked for stage performance and includes costumes and props. And, unlike musical theatre, opera is performed without microphones requiring students to learn to sign in amplified without causing damage to their voice.
鈥淚t takes specific training and skill and many hours of rehearsals to learn this art,鈥� Rainey said. 鈥淥pera can touch your heart and move you to think and examine yourself as you reflect on the emotional portrayals you are watching. It is meant to cause a reaction, and through those reactions start conversations with an awareness of how others might think and feel.鈥�
吃瓜官网 students participating in the opera performance include Abigail Payne, Hailee Pacheco, Finn Krier, Daniel Schaffer, Elijah Thomas and Richard Wooten. 吃瓜官网 voice students Lucia McCoy and Alex Cook also make an appearance.