Opera Scenes to Be Presented Nov. 22-23

November 18, 1996

by Richard Veit

The Baylor University Opera Theater-under the direction of Richard Aslanian, lecturer in music and director of opera-will present two evenings of excerpts from famous operas at 8 p.m. Nov. 22-23. Both performances will be held in Roxy Grove Hall.
These operatic scenes, fully staged and costumed, will be presented by student performers with piano accompaniment.
The programs will begin with the opening scene from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" followed by the duet from Act II of Gioacchino Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and then the duet from the first act of Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera "Fidelio."
Next will come the opening scene from Mozart's "Così fan tutte," the quartet from Act III of Charles Gounod's "Faust," and the third scene from the opening act of John Corigliano's "The Ghosts of Versailles." Lynda McKnight, assistant professor of vocal studies, sang in the world premiere of the Corigliano opera at the Metropolitan Opera House, and she will be staging this scene for Baylor Opera Theater.
The programs will close with the quartet from Act III of Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto."
Graduate student Sarah Finch will be the piano accompanist for "Così fan tutte" and "The Ghosts of Versailles," while Richard Aslanian will accompany the other five excerpts.
All of the operas will be sung in their original languages, with the exception of the two Mozart works, which will be presented in English translations.
These two performances of opera scenes are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 755-3991.