UConn Opera in collaboration with UConn Puppet Arts present Opera Scenes, featuring scenes from the standard operatic repertoire alongside two contemporary English operas tackling the issue of climate change: The Watering Hole by Willem Oothuysen and Tristen Moseley, as well as Polar by William King Barnett and Fred Bartlett. The performance takes place Sunday, March 30th at 5pm in von der Mehden Recital Hall at the University of Connecticut.
Be transported into the lives of timeless characters with soaring voices through operatic repertoire from the likes of Mozart and Verdi. Scenes from Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito and Der Schauspieldirector, as well as Verdi's Rigoletto and La Traviata will be presented by UConn students Maya Bullied, Chris Gallerani, Emily Hoffman, Hannah Petrillo, Cleveland Williams, Kelly Whitesell, and Yoonjeong Yoo. Directed by the multi-talented Dr. Spencer Reese, you won't want to miss these.
The Watering Hole and Polar are stories from the world of trash; the dystopian future affected by climate change. The Watering Hole shows the remnants of life: a CEO, some ocean life, and pride. Exploring reflections within the shadow puppet watering hole, three characters cling to hope. Polar revolves around a Russian mother and her daughter in their oil spill of a neighborhood as they reconcile the perspective of a large-scale talking polar bear. Enhanced by the striking movement of puppetry and beautiful tone of operatic voices, The Watering Hole and Polar may root into in audience hearts and minds in a lasting way.
The climate change operas are produced and directed by UConn Opera DMA candidate Kelly Whitesell, puppet directed by Matthew Sorensen, and features UConn Opera and Puppet Arts students. Puppets, design and fabrication has been provided by Matthew Sorensen, Sadie Aiken, and Bart Raccoberton. The works originally premiered in the Climate Opera Projects, produced by American Opera Projects in Brooklyn, NY. Opera Scenes music direction and accompaniment is provided by Dmitriy Glivinskiy.
Opera Scenes are appropriate for audiences above the age of 12. Student/ Military/ Children/ Faculty pick up FREE ticket at box office on site.
Tickets are $10 and available through the following link:
https://events.uconn.edu/von-der-mehden-recital-hall/event/635121-uconn-opera-
This concert will be livestreamed here:
https://www.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2090521/uiconf_id/36463151/entry_id/1_almc4hoz/embed/dynamic
For more information, contact: Kelly Whitesell at kelly.whitesell@uconn.edu