Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre to Partner with OperaSLO for Performances March 8-10

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre has a unique opportunity to work with Brian Asher Alhadeff, Opera San Luis Obispo artistic director, in preparation for three performances of “Classic Scenes from Opera and Musical Theatre.”

The students will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 8-9, and at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 10, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center.

Puccini’s one-act opera “Suor Angelica” will be included in the performances, along with scenes from Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier,” Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” the mad scene from Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor,” and a medley from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma.” The repertoire for the event was selected to enable all music majors studying voice to participate.

This newly established “co-opera” with Cal Poly's Student Opera Theatre and OperaSLO is intended to promote Cal Poly's Learn by Doing educational philosophy and OperaSLO's educational outreach programs. Students will obtain hands-on stage and performance experience working alongside Alhadeff and OperaSLO's professional orchestra and chorus members. The co-opera creates an efficient use of community resources, and provides emerging student talent for OperaSLO, according to Jacalyn Kreitzer of the Music Department faculty.

Alhadeff will serve as music director and conductor for the performances. Kreitzer will produce and direct musical rehearsals, and Katherine Arthur, Music Department faculty member, will stage direct.

Cal Poly alumna Laura Pryzgoda will provide the costumes, and Howard Gee and the Theatre Department will provide the sets.

Tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $10 for the public. They are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends. Order online at www.pacslo.org; by phone at SLO-ARTS (756-2787); or by fax at 756-6088.

Patrons who buy season tickets to four Music Department events through the Performing Arts Ticket Office will receive a 10 percent discount; a 15 percent discount is given to those who buy tickets to five or more events.

The performances are sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program, as well as OperaSLO and local donors. For more information, call the Music Department at 756-2406.

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