NDSU Opera is set to present Mozart’s musical comedy, “The Impresario,” along with Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges” on Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. In Festival Concert Hall.
Mozart’s “The Impresario,” written in 1786, features the hilarious trials and tribulations of two warring sopranos fighting for the lead role in a new opera production. This comedy has spoken dialogue as well as sung arias and ensembles. It will be performed in English.
Maurice Ravel’s “The Child and the Enchantments” represents another opera war. In the original libretto by Colette, written around 1917, a boy throws a tantrum and animals and inanimate objects that he has harmed or broken come to life to confront him. The NDSU production will draw upon parallels between the story of the opera and Ravel’s actual experiences during World War I, when he served in the French Army. The child represents Ravel himself, confronted by his traumatizing memories of the war. Musical highlights include the final chorus which stands as a tribute to the compassion in a human soul.
The production is performed by NDSU students and staged by guest director Frederic Heringes. Heringes is a Fargo resident who has directed productions regionally for the FM Opera’s Gate City Bank’s Young Artist Program and Concordia College.
Mariane Lemieux-Wottrich who recently joined NDSU as assistant professor of voice and opera is producing the double bill. Lemieux-Wottrich is originally from Montreal and specializes in French repertoire.
Tickets are available at https://tickets.ndsu.nodak.edu or by calling the NDSU Performing Arts Box Office at 701-231-7969.
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