Three operas for one price

trevor.kenney — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:59:11 +0000

Three perfectly poignant pieces grace the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall stage as Opera Workshop presents, An Evening of Chamber Opera, Feb. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. nightly.

A 'retro' trip from the 1930s to the 1950s, the operatic samples on the program feature rarely performed works by composers Samuel Barber, Joseph Haydn and Gian Carlo Menotti.

The concert begins with Samuel Barber's, A Hand of Bridge, where four friends have met for their regular bridge night.

"The opera is the exact length of a game of bridge," says Dr. Sandra Stringer, Opera Workshop director. "We are exposed to the characters' thoughts and their complicated relationships. We've set the opera in the 1950s, which gives it an interesting look – a lot of fun to see."

Haydn's, The Diva (La Cantarina), is a comedic opera in two acts.

"The opera revolves around the music lesson of a vocal student whose affections are sought by two competing gentlemen, one of them being her music teacher," explains Stringer.

Written in the 18th century, Stringer and company have transformed the opera to capture a nostalgic mood with set and costumes inspired by the 1940s.

The evening concludes with Menotti's, The Old Maid and the Thief, an opera originally composed for the radio in 1939.

"We're staging this opera rather than performing it as would be for the radio, a rarity for any audience to experience," says Stringer.

A vagabond, in search of room and board, happens upon the home of an old maid and her housekeeper. Feeling sorry for the old gentleman, the young servant invites him in. Enter the nosy neighbour, who interprets the vagabond's visit as a scandal.

Delightfully comedic and full of hilarious hijinx, The Old Maid and the Thief is sure to leave audiences in stitches.

To reserve seats for this unique night of operatic entertainment, visit the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office or call 403-329-2616. Tickets are priced at $15 regular admission, $10 for seniors/students.

For a full look at the January issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Performing Arts events

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:30:19 +0000

THEATRE & MUSIC

November 22
Ode to Joy
(Beethoven's Symphony #9)
8 p.m., Southminster United Church
Lethbridge Symphony and Vox Musica with soloists Janet Youngdahl, soprano; Sandra Stringer, mezzo-soprano; Blaine Hendsbee, tenor; and George Evelyn, bass-baritone. Tickets: 403-329-7328.

November 23-27
Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind (English Translation by Jonathan Franzen)
8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre
Written in 1891 and not performed uncensored for decades, this "children's tragedy" is as much a statement about sexual morality and bourgeois hypocrisy today as it was a century ago. A group of teens experience a sexual awakening, becoming curious about their bodies, each other, masturbation and more. Teachers and parents fight to protect them, with both hilarious and disastrous results. Mature content.

November 26
U of L Wind Orchestra Concert
8 p.m., Southminster United Church

November 30
Magnum Mysterium (Great Mystery)
8 p.m., Southminster United Church | Vox Musica and the U of L Women's Chorus.

December 1
Birth of the Cool
8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre | The U of L Jazz Ensemble performs music from the famous album Birth of the Cool and other well-known Miles Davis songs, including All Blue and So What.

December 3
Classical Percussion Concert
8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre | The
U of L Percussion Ensemble performs compelling modern and classical repertoire with a touch of Christmas.

December 4 & 5
Magnificat & Messiah
8 p.m., Dec. 4 | 3 p.m., Dec. 5, Southminster United Church | The LSO with the U of L Singers perform Bach's Magnificat and the Christmas part of Handel's Messiah. Tickets: 403-329-7328. LSO Master Series

January 22
Big Band Cabaret
8 p.m., U of L Ballrooms (Students' Union Building) | Enjoy a silent auction, door prizes, and dancing to the music of the Lethbridge Big Band.

January 20-22
TheatreXtra
8 p.m., David Spinks Theatre; Matinee: 2 p.m., Jan. 22

January 22
Classical Winds
8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall
Features Thomas Staples, horn; Margaret Mezei, clarinet; and Deanna Oye, piano; with friends. Faculty Artists & Friends Series

January 23
Classical Winds
2 p.m., Medicine Hat Esplanade Studio Theatre | The concert is followed by a
U of L alumni reception. Faculty Artists & Friends Series

January 27
Schubertiade
7:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Theatre | A celebration of Franz Schubert's music presented by music faculty and students. Free admission.

January 28
Original Brass
8 p.m., Southminster United Church
U of L Faculty Brass Quintet: Trudi Mason, trumpet; Keith Griffioen, trumpet; Thomas Staples, horn; Gerald Rogers, trombone; Nick Sullivan, bass trombone. Tickets:
403-329-7328. LSO Chamber Series

January 29
Abbondànza
6 p.m., CoCo Pazzo Italian Café
The 10th annual memorable evening of gourmet food, fine art and fun, to raise funds for Fine Arts student scholarships. Tickets limited, book early: 403-329-2227.

February 7
Happy 50th Birthday LSO!
8 p.m., Southminster United Church
The Lethbridge Symphony, with the Musaeus String Quartet, performs works by Leonard Bernstein, Tchaikovsky and
U of L Professor Emeritus John-Paul Christopher Jackson. | Tickets: 403-329-7328. LSO Master Series

February 11 & 12
An Evening of Chamber Opera
8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall
Giancarlo Menotti's comic radio opera The Old Maid and the Thief headlines this Opera Workshop performance, which also includes Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge and the delightful 18th century comedy La Cantarina by Franz Joseph Haydn.

February 15-19
The Seagull by Anton Chekhov
8 p.m., David Spinks Theatre
Konstantin loves his mother but is jealous of her fame and depressed about his lack of success as a playwright. He despises the celebrated young writer who lives with her and seems to have captured the attention of the girl he adores. Passions abound and idealism is challenged by triviality in this absorbing drama from the master of comic realism.

ART

November 20
Button Making with Trap/door
What's the most creative thing you can fit onto a 1" round button? Here's a great way to test your eye for things on a smaller scale. Buttons are $1 each, or 5 for $3. All the proceeds go to Trap/door Artist Run Centre.

January 15
Prairie Ink Drawings
In celebration of A Little History on the Prairies, you can make your own prairie ink – just like they did waaaaaay back when. Use your ink to draw a prairie landscape that may or may not contain a little house!

February 5
Printmaking
An annual favourite, all materials are provided and it's easy to do, not to mention lots of fun.

EXHIBITIONS

U of L Main Gallery

November 5 to January 7
Promising Objects

January 14 to February 25
A Little History on the Prairies

HELEN CHRISTOU GALLERY

October 29 to January 14
Lethbridge National Park
(art + people = x series)

January 21 to April 8
Projects by Museum Studies Interns

For more information about any of these events, visit:
www.ulethbridge.ca/finearts/events

For a look at the full issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Chamber Opera

Three operas for one price

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