Utah State University's Opera Theatre is gearing up quickly to close its 2024-2025 season with a diverse lineup that traverses genres from opera to musical theater. The multi-day event is set to feature Maurice Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” and Antonín Dvořák's “Rusalka” along with a student-directed musical theater cabaret. Mark your calendars for April 10-12, with performances starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Morgan Theatre, as reported by USU Today.
The program kicks off with Ravel's comic one-act opera sung in French. Afterward, audience members will be able to see a rendition of the final act of "Rusalka" performed in its original Czech language. For those of you who are more into the vibes of Broadway, a musical theater cabaret is scheduled for April 11, featuring numbers from popular shows like "Sweeney Todd" and "Newsies". Dallas Aksoy, Opera Theatre Director, highlighted the educational value of the production, saying, "Being able to take leadership roles is another very useful educational opportunity," as per USU Today.
Tickets are already up for grabs online and can also be bought at the Chase Fine Arts Center's CCA box office. English supertitles will be provided for the foreign-language operas to make the stories accessible to all. Despite minimalistic staging, the performances promise to deliver the full emotional impact of the works. "I’ve been spending a lot of time at the piano with my score, plunking out my part and practicing my Czech diction. The melodies the prince sings in Rusalka resonate with me because they’re so beautiful," shared student performer Holden Smith with USU Today.
Participation in the opera program is not just for show, it’s a crucial step for vocal performance students to gain experience and meet graduation requirements. This season’s lineup offers them a chance to stretch their skills in new and challenging directions. “Seeing our students make progress while at the same time producing enjoyable works of music and theater for audiences is incredibly satisfying for me and I feel lucky to be a mentor in each of their musical journeys,” said Aksoy, as obtained by USU Today.
