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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Singing for Spring
As the semester winds down, the voice departments at three local universities (four if you count SMU) all trot out opera productions this weekend. UNT puts on Monteverdi’s wicked L’incoronazione di Poppea, an opera that subverts the 17th-century conventions by celebrating the triumph of evil over good, as it details the efforts of Emperor Nero to dispose of his wife so he can elevate his mistress Poppea to empress. Unusually stageworthy for its time, this opera is acerbic and glittering.
TCU performs excerpts from four operas, under the baton of Richard Estes. The famous “Flower Duet” from Delibes’ Lakmé is on the program, as are trios from Die Fledermaus and The Barber of Seville. The most interesting item, though, is the finale of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. Joplin is justly famous for his piano rags, but his last major work before his death was this ambitious 1910 opera. Its message of African-American self-determination was too advanced for its time (and its convoluted libretto makes it difficult to stage now), but it’s still fascinating stuff from a composer breaking new ground.
UTA takes the same piecemeal approach, performing scenes and arias from different operas in their opera workshop recital, although details on selections were unavailable at press time.
L’incoronazione di Poppea runs Thu-Sun at UNT, Murchison Performing Arts Center, I-35E & Av D, Denton. Tickets are $15-35. Call 940-369-7802. TCU’s opera concert is at 7:30pm Fri at PepsiCo Recital Hall, 2800 S University Dr, FW. Admission is free. Call 817-257-7602. UTA’s opera workshop is at 7:30pm Sun at Irons Recital Hall, 700 W 2nd St, Arlington. Admission is free. Call 817-272-3471.
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