Baylor Opera Theater Presents 'Die Fledermaus'

Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia
Media Contact: Terry Goodrich (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Jan. 25, 2016) – Baylor Opera Theater will put on four performances of "Die Fledermaus" (The Bat) by Johann Strauss II from Wednesday, Jan. 27, to Saturday, Jan. 30.
All four showings take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Jesse H. Jones Theatre in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
"Die Fledermaus" is an 1874 operetta whose comedic plot is complete with a lavish ball, a slew of disguises and mistaken identities.
Octavio Cardenas, the director of the Baylor Opera program in Baylor's School of Music, described why "Die Fledermaus" was chosen for this year's opera performance.
"This is a training institution, so the first thing we need is to see what we have as far as students, then we have to accommodate their degree of development vocally and artistically and find a piece that can use the most students," Cardenas said. "In this case, we found 'Die Fledermaus' could make use of most of the people involved in the program, and it's a good piece for young voices."
In preparing for "Die Fledermaus," students practiced singing, acting and dialogue, and also learned to sing the music in German. Songs that are performed in German will have English subtitles.
"I'm looking forward to opening night, seeing the fruition of all the work we have put into this for almost six months, from the moment we started designing to now, seeing all the elements together," Cardenas said. "All forms of art are important, but opera has something special. It makes use of all forms of art. You have music, voice, dancing, acting, set designs, lighting, painting…it's a combination of all of the art forms in one art form. So that, to me, is why opera can be very powerful."
The opera students began music rehearsals at the end of October and started staging the opera in the middle of November, so this week's performances are the culmination of months of hard work.
"For somebody who is coming to see their first opera, this is a great opera for beginners, because all the melodies are catchy and if people are familiar with the waltzes by Strauss, all the big hits are in this opera. It's comedy, and it'll be funny," Cardenas said.
Tickets, which are $10 for students and $15 for the general public, can be purchased from the Baylor University Department of Theater Arts box office at 254-710-1865 or online at www.baylor.edu/theatre. The Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center is located at 60 Baylor Ave., Waco, TX 76706.
by Jenna Press, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 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 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
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.