opera at illinois 2009-2010 opera season
Winter Production: February 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2010
South Pacific by Richard Rodgers
Sung in English
Conductor: Eduardo Diazmuñoz
Stage Director: Dawn Harris
Click here to Purchase tickets or call 217/333-6280
Strauss Opera Scenes
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:30pm - FREE ADMISSION
Recital Hall at Smith Memorial Hall
Please, join us for an evening of excerpts from Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier and Ariadne auf Naxos in the voices of Humberto Rivera, Lindsay Eckhardt, Amy Fuller, Jackline Madegwa, Alba Cancel, Karen Messina, Diane Henning, Michael Foster, Ricardo Sepúlveda, Chris Hoster, Andrew Weisheit and Art Jostlin. All assisted by accompanists Lee Steiner, Xiaoke Cheng, Dorothy Chan, Andrew Weisheit, and Sarah Cushman.
Performed by members of Julie Gunn's vocal coaching and accompanying studio
Opera Studio Performances, November 18th and 19th, 7:30pm - FREE ADMISSION
Colwell Playhouse Theater, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
University of Illinois Opera Studio will perform selections from *1787: We, the People*,
directed and choreographed by Dawn Harris, and Mozart's Don Giovanni*, directed by Ricardo Herrera, in a semi-staged - not fully produced - concert format.
*1787: We, the People*, is an original collaboration by Robert Picklesimer, who has written numerous dramatic adaptations, and Lucinda Lawrence of the University of Illinois School of Music. Still in development, this new musical theater work tells the story of the writing of the Constitution. The UI Division of Opera offers the first-ever opportunity to see this new work, alongside a wonderful presentation of a favorite from the opera genre, presented free of charge.
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November 17, 2009
Congratulations to all in the cast and orchestra – great job!
To our followers, we hope you enjoy Le Nozze di Figaro and will join us in February
for our production of South Pacific. All the best for the Holidays!
November 12, 2009
Good luck to all our student performers at this weekends shows!
November 11, 2009
In Wednesday night's rehearsal, cast members listen intently to comments by Maestro Diazmuñoz in the pit.
November 9, 2009
This past weekend
everyone was busy with final preparations for the opening on Thursday. We had a technical rehearsal with no costumes and then a dress rehearsal in full performance attire.
November 5, 2009
We would like to introduce two new faces to Opera at Illinois:
Karen Messina, Countess Almaviva, in her first semester at Illinois comes to us by way of North Carolina. She shares her experiences with a wonderfully supportive husband and two beautiful little girls, Delaney age 8 and Sloane age 6; both already love to sing!
Ryan Milstead, Figaro, is a graduate vocal performance major from Okolona, MS. He is very excited to start his affiliation with the U of I Opera program and "hopes you all enjoy the performances!"
November 4, 2009
With just over a week to go before opening night of Le Nozze di Figaro the cast, crew and orchestra are busy in rehearsals, staging and costume fittings.
Here are some of the faces you will be seeing on stage...and in the pit:
Yanzelmalee Rivera, Kyle Pollio, Hillary Anderson, Jong-Hun Cha, Eduardo Diazmuñoz
as Susanna ---- as Don Basilio --- as Countess Almaviva -- as the Count --- as the Maestro
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October 2009
A new season begins! Here is a quick update from Tom Schleis:
Following auditions and casting, we begin a few weeks of intense vocal coaching and musical rehearsals, preparing the singers for the staging rehearsals. Our coachings consist of "one-on-one" sessions with our singers working on their Italian, developing the freedom necessary for the extended recitative sections, and pinpointing the sections of the score that are most demanding for them. We then begin evening musical rehearsals. These rehearsals enable our singers to begin their work under the baton of Maestro Diazmunoz. In this way, they become accustomed to his approach to the score, and they are able to sing the various ensembles that dominate LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.
Staging rehearsals have begun with Brant Pope, the head of the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois, so we are well on our way to the premiere of LE NOZZE DI FIGARO on Thursday, 12 November 2009, in the Tryon Festival Theatre.
As the weeks go by, more people become involved: costumes are prepared for the singers, final touches are put on the set, members of the UI Symphony begin rehearsals of FIGARO under Maestro Diazmunoz's baton, and lighting is also added. Members of the UI Chorale, under the baton of Fred Stoltzfus, are preparing the choruses that add to the brilliance of this great work by Mozart.
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Fall Production: November 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2009
Le Nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles
Conductor: Eduardo Diazmuñoz
Stage Director: Brant Pope
Spring Production: April 29 and 30, May 1 and 2, 2010
Albert Herring by Benjamin E. Britten
Sung in English with English Supertitles
Conductor: Eduardo Diazmuñoz
Stage Director: Stephen Fiol
Click here to Purchase tickets or call 217/333-6280
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2008-2009 Season Recap: click here