Top forties of opera music will highlight two performances this weekend at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
An Evening in Old Vienna, sponsored by the Ohio University School of Music, will be performed today and Saturday at 8 p.m. The OU Opera Theater and Symphony Orchestra will perform in the show.
William Mouat, director of opera in the School of Music and stage director and producer of the performances, said An Evening in Old Vienna is based on Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss, with scenes from other operas incorporated as well. Die Fledermaus means the bat in German.
It's a comic operetta that revolves around mistaken identity
Mouat said.
Musical selections by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Giacomo Puccini are included in An Evening in Old Vienna. Mouat said the inclusion of popular and familiar music is intended for people to understand opera is accessible to all audiences.
An Evening in Old Vienna came about as a way to showcase the vocal performance talents of OU students and faculty members, he said. More than 100 people are involved in the production, split between cast, crew and the OU symphony orchestra.
Mouat said each year there is a major production featuring orchestra, sets and costumes.
It's just like going to the Met he said.
There are four faculty soloists featured, as well as many student soloists. Andrew George is the conductor and musical director.
Most of An Evening in Old Vienna is comic, Mouat said, but some serious pieces, such as Puccini's La Bohème are included.
There's a variety of different musical styles
he said.
Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors and $6 for students. For further information, call the School of Music at 593-4244 or the Office of Public Occasions Ticket Office at 593-1780.
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