Feb. 7, 2012
Contact David Richardson at
608-796-3781 or dkrichardson@viterbo.edu
VITERBO UNIVERSITY TO PRESENT TROUBLE IN TAHITI FEB. 17–19
LA
CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University will present Leonard Bernstein’s opera Trouble in Tahiti as part of its Chamber
Opera Series Friday, Feb. 17–Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center
Recital Hall.
Trouble in Tahiti is the story of a day
in the life of Sam, an ambitious young executive, and Dinah, his bored and
ignored wife, set in the materialistic environment of 1950s American suburbia. It
stars two of Viterbo’s outstanding singers, students Meghan
Rinehart and Aiden Smerud.
“It
is a contemporary piece and in a different style than the operas we’ve done in
the past,” said David Richardson, Viterbo instructor of music. “It’s good for
our students and for our audience to experience a less traditional opera. It
features challenging music and the drama will keep audiences involved.”
Trouble in Tahiti is a one-act opera in
seven scenes that was written in English and runs approximately 45 minutes in
length. It has a cast of five; Sam, Dinah, and a “Greek Chorus” of three. Richardson will serve as music director and accompanist,
with fellow faculty member Dan Johnson-Wilmot serving as vocal coach and guest
Brent Wilson, a personal friend of Richardson, providing stage direction
and design. Wilson is a music faculty member at Ventura College in California and
the Chorus Master of Opera Santa Barbara.
“It’s
always good to offer students a different perspective,” Richardson said. “And
of course it’s fun working with a friend.”
The Greek chorus contrasts the idealistic American
dream of the 1950s with Sam and Dinah and their troubled marriage.
“The jazz-infused music of the Greek Chorus is very
pleasing, and the music of Sam and Dinah is a darker, more traditional classical style,” Richardson
said.
Tickets are $9 for general admission seating. For
more information, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/fac.
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