Baylor Opera Theater Will Perform Two English Comedies

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (March 26, 2014) – Baylor Opera Theater will present a pair of one-act comic operas from England on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, with both performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Roxy Grove Hall at Waco Hall, 624 Speight Ave.
This student troupe is led by stage director Octavio Cárdenas, assistant professor of ensembles and director of opera, and music director Jeffrey Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor of voice, both in Baylor’s School of Music.
Friday’s performance is Arthur Benjamin’s comic opera “Prima Donna,” a stage work from 1949 that premiered in London, with a witty libretto—or opera lines—by Cedric Cliffe.
Leading roles will be sung by junior Charlie Carroll, junior Zachary Barba, master’s candidate Matthew Hagestuen, senior Rebekah Howell, master’s candidate Sarah Stephens and senior Melanie Silva.
Saturday, Baylor Opera Theater will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury,” a comical take on the British judicial system, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews after its 1875 premiere in London. This is the only opera by master collaborators William S. Gilbert (libretto) and Arthur Sullivan (music) that did not have any spoken dialogue.
Singing the principal roles will be junior Andy Eaton, master’s candidate Kaitlyn Stobbe, master’s candidate Bille Bruley, senior Kevin Smith, junior Scott Clark, sophomore Chris Peters and senior Solange Mainer.
These one-act operas will be fully staged and costumed, with piano accompaniment by master’s candidate Michael Womack and costume designs by junior Kilah Williams.
Both programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor University School of Music at 254-710-3991.
by Rachel Miller, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Our students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service, and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, the students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture, and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. The School of Music of Baylor University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs leading to the bachelor of music education degree conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency.