Opera Studio sets the scene
By: Alex Bates
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Lifestyle
Webster University's Opera Studio wowed its audience this weekend with its 51st through 53rd annual opera scene performances.
The opera scenes presentation took place at the Winifred Moore Auditorium Jan. 23 to 25, with performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Five scenes from separate operas were performed, including Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Bastien and Bastienna", Benjamin Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - based on Shakespeare's play, and "The Turn of the Screw" - based on Henry James novel, and Arthur Sullivan's "The Gondoliers."
Artistic director for the Opera Studio and adjunct professor for the music department Alice Nelson said music students must audition to be assigned roles. Once parts are assigned, she chooses scenes based on specific students' voices.
Students began rehearsals three weeks before the spring semester and continued until the opening performance.
"We had practices two times a day for two to three hours at a time," said Todd Moore, a senior music education major who performed in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." "But the process was definitely worth the product."
Brought in on personal recommendations to Nelson, Stage Director Michael Shell flew in from New Jersey, while the conductor, Johannes Muller-Stosch, flew in from California for his fourth consecutive year conducting.
Simple but appropriate sets and props were used to tell the stories of the opera scenes chosen. The performers wore dresses and traditional attire from the time period in which each scene was set.
Betrayal, forgiveness, laughs, love and ghosts were the outstanding themes of the various scenes, but comedy reigned overall. Most people named "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - a scene about several lovers disguising themselves in order to reveal one man's infidelity - as their favorite.
The conclusion of each scene was met with cheers and extended applause from the large and diverse audience.
"It's nice to see a really good turnout for things that aren't plays or musicals," said Anthony Hagan, a senior fashion journalism major who performed in "The Marriage of Figaro," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Gondoliers."
The opera scenes brought in its regulars as well as first-time attendees, satisfying all its viewers.
"For someone who hasn't been to a lot of operas I thought that it was a good show to go to because you get a lot of variety," said Lauren Huffman, a senior international relations major.
The hard work seemed to pay off. Every performance went really well and smoothly, Nelson said.
The opera scenes presentation took place at the Winifred Moore Auditorium Jan. 23 to 25, with performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Five scenes from separate operas were performed, including Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Bastien and Bastienna", Benjamin Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - based on Shakespeare's play, and "The Turn of the Screw" - based on Henry James novel, and Arthur Sullivan's "The Gondoliers."
Artistic director for the Opera Studio and adjunct professor for the music department Alice Nelson said music students must audition to be assigned roles. Once parts are assigned, she chooses scenes based on specific students' voices.
Students began rehearsals three weeks before the spring semester and continued until the opening performance.
"We had practices two times a day for two to three hours at a time," said Todd Moore, a senior music education major who performed in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." "But the process was definitely worth the product."
Brought in on personal recommendations to Nelson, Stage Director Michael Shell flew in from New Jersey, while the conductor, Johannes Muller-Stosch, flew in from California for his fourth consecutive year conducting.
Simple but appropriate sets and props were used to tell the stories of the opera scenes chosen. The performers wore dresses and traditional attire from the time period in which each scene was set.
Betrayal, forgiveness, laughs, love and ghosts were the outstanding themes of the various scenes, but comedy reigned overall. Most people named "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - a scene about several lovers disguising themselves in order to reveal one man's infidelity - as their favorite.
The conclusion of each scene was met with cheers and extended applause from the large and diverse audience.
"It's nice to see a really good turnout for things that aren't plays or musicals," said Anthony Hagan, a senior fashion journalism major who performed in "The Marriage of Figaro," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Gondoliers."
The opera scenes brought in its regulars as well as first-time attendees, satisfying all its viewers.
"For someone who hasn't been to a lot of operas I thought that it was a good show to go to because you get a lot of variety," said Lauren Huffman, a senior international relations major.
The hard work seemed to pay off. Every performance went really well and smoothly, Nelson said.
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