Southeast Missouri State UniversitysDepartment of Music, in collaboration with The Jeanine Larson DobbinsConservatoryof Theatre and Dance,will host more than 700 area studentsfor an Opera for Schools performance Jan. 30.
Opera for the Schools will take place at 9:30 a.m. in theDonald C. Bedell Performance Hall at Southeasts River Campus.
The program is an opportunity for third-12thgrade students from 13 southeast Missouri schools to experience and learn about opera performances, saidDr. ChristopherGoeke, professor of music at Southeast.
Opera for Schools is an extension of our yearly full opera presentation with orchestra, full staging and costumes, he said. We always have had a wonderful response from the students. We provide an introduction about the opera and the shows we are doing to help them understand the style.We also use supertitles for the students so they can follow the action and get all the humor.
This years production includestwo Puccini one-act operas the beautifully dramatic SuorAngelica (Sister Angelica) and the insanely funny GianniSchicchi.
SuorAngelicais a touching story placed in the Convent of Santa MariaCellole, outside Siena, Italy.The story focuses on Sister Angelica, a young woman who was forced to take the veil after having a child out of marriage.The show includes soaring orchestrations and vocal writing, sung in the original Italian (with supertitles) and will feature guest artist AmyMazzeoin the title role.
Gianni Schicchiis a comedy placed in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, 1935, andcenters on the very dysfunctionalDonatifamily, Italian emigrants hustling to make a life in the new world.After the passing of their dear UncleBuoso, the aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews appear to be in sincere mourning.However, when the relatives discover thatBuosoleft all his riches to the local friars, their true colors are revealed. They spat, bicker and quarrel (sometimes in Italian) about what to do until finally agreeing to bring in the local fixer, Gianni Schicchi, to find a solution.Schicchi is not well-liked by the family because he is Sicilian, but they are willing to go along with his plan.However, the mastermind has a secret twist in store much to the familys chagrin.
Gianni Schicchiwill be performed in a new English translation with supertitles.
Additionally, the Department of Music and Conservatory will present two public performances of SuorAngelica and Gianni Schicchi on Friday, Jan. 31,and Saturday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bedell Performance Hall.
This is a beautiful and entertaining night at the opera,Goekesaid.
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling (573) 651-2265, or online at RiverCampus.org.
For those interested in dinner and a show, Puccini and Pasta will be held Jan. 31 at Gabriels Food and Wine in downtown Cape Girardeau. Tickets, which include dinner and the opera, are available athttp://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07egset0hwbac176cc&llr=7ncdezrab&fbclid=IwAR16T-DfX9VcLUbqbqGX5QQhqGrjnIIIHgPJbBkYNi4QLEWQ4h5jv54CV7I.