A Gala Night with Utah State University's Opera Theatre

It’s “Madness, Mayhem and Other Great Opera Moments” Nov. 17 and 18 at the Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center St., Logan, when talented students from Utah State University’s Opera Theatre Program in the Department of Music take the stage. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

“For the past decade, community opera lovers and first-time opera patrons alike have enjoyed the work of USU students presenting opera scenes, one-acts and fully-staged opera productions each semester,” said Lynn Jemison-Keisker, director of USU Opera Theatre. “All ages are sure to enjoy this gala concert of well-known melodies sung by famous comic and dramatic characters from three centuries of opera favorites.”

More than 30 USU students majoring in vocal performance, choral education and other areas will perform in the gala concert as part of their opera theatre production class.

“This is my sixth semester of involvement in a USU Opera Theatre production,” said Kacee Cambron, a senior majoring in vocal performance at Utah State. “Since the operas we present are different every semester, I have had the chance to be in three full opera productions and several shorter opera scenes or excerpts, which has been a great learning experience for me.”

The first half of the concert will be performed in Italian with arias, duets, trios and ensembles from operas that include Mozart’s Le nozze de Figaro and Verdi’s Falstaff. The second half will feature works in English from Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah.

“The audience will be able to hear a wide variety of opera works giving them a historical perspective on the styles and musical demands of opera,” said Jemison-Keisker.

“This is one of the most audience-friendly opera experiences a person can have because it includes some of the best bits and pieces of opera presented in a concert setting,” said Cambron.

In March 2012, the opera theatre production class will collaborate with USU theater students in the production of The Pirates of Penzance. Michael Bankhead, USU music department head, will conduct, with Jemison-Keisker as the musical director and Colin Baldy as the guest stage director.

Tickets for the opera gala concert are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and youth, $5 for USU faculty and staff and free for USU students with ID. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCA Box Office located in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center, online or by calling 435-797-8022.

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Writer: Rachelle Nielson, 435-797-9203, rachelle.nielson@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu