2012-2013

"A Night of Scenes"

Join UM Opera Theatre Ensemble for our annual Night of Scenes.

This year will feature scenes taken from Classical Literature. Come and see beloved stories like: Little Red Riding Hood, Secret Garden, Little Women, Cosi Fan Tutte, and Hamlet. Another aspect of the night's events will include a comic intermezzo composed by Haydn. La Canterina, or The Songstress, will take place with the innovative backdrop of student film. Wishing to incorporate more areas of the arts into Baroque Concert Opera, this project, headed up by Dr. Jos Milton, seeks to rejuvenate and return some infrequently performed operas to the stage.

Ford PAC Studio Theatre

Friday October 26, and Saturday October 27

at 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, October 28

at 3:00 P.M.

Tickets will be available through the UM Box Office.
(662)915-7411

Gianni Schicchi

and

Suor Angelica

(1918)

Music by Giacomo Puccini

These two one act operas are apart of a triple set called Il Trittico. They were first performed at the
Metropolitan Opera as one of Puccini's greatest productions.

Gianni Schicchi is a comedy that derives from the
popular writings of Dante Alighieri in The Inferno. It is set in Florence, Italy at the birth of the Renaissance.
The greedy Donati family ha just lost their rich old Uncle Buoso, who owned much of Tuscany and other expensive possessions, including the
mansion where they have come to see him. They soon realize that all of his possessions will be given to the friars at the monastery,
and that their inheritance will be lost forever. Rinuccio, the nephew of the family, decides to call for Gianni Schicchi, a scheming countryman
who has never been liked by the Donati's. This means that Rinuccio can now make plans to marry Lauretta, Gianni Schicchi's daughter.
Gianni Schicchi convinces the Donati's to dress him like their Uncle Buoso in the bed, only this time being ill rather than dead.
As Gianni Schicchi (disguised as Buoso) changes the will, he leaves every family member the possessions they requested. However, the family could
not find an agreement on the Mansion, a mule, and sawmills located in Signa. The family eagerly listens as the rest of the will is left
to the "dear friend of Buoso," Gianni Schicchi. Schicchi chases the Donati's out of his newly owned house as
his daughter and Rinuccio sing of their triumphant love that can now last forever. The opera ends with Schicchi turning to the audience
to explain how his cruel trick turned out to benefit young love.

Suor Angelica is one act tragedy that takes place in a convent near Sienna, Italy, around the 16th Century. It is about a
woman named Sister Angelica who was banished to a convent because of her illegitimate child. Her noble family has disowned her, and she has
lived in the convent for seven years now. When she is suddenly visited by her cruel Aunt, the princess, she is informed of current events
back home in her noble family. The Princess demands Sister Angelica to sign her inheritance over to her sister for her upcoming marriage.
When Sister Angelica asks about her son who lives back home, the Princess informs her that he died two years prior. Now that Sister Angelica
knows that she left her son to die alone, she takes a posion and kills herself. While realizing that she has commited a sin, she sees her son
in heaven, welcoming his mother back into his arms.

Meek Hall Auditorium

Thursday April 22, Friday April 23, and Saturday April 24

at 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, April 25

at 3:00 P.M.

The King and I

(1951)

Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

as a part of the

Oxford Shakespeare Festival

Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts

Thursday, June 24 and Saturday , June 26

at 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, June 27

at 2:00 P.M.