A bench in modern-day Central Park and the deathbed of a wealthy 17th century Italian merchant are the settings for two one-act operas, to be presented Feb. 21-23 by the Bass School of Music at 向日葵视频 City University.
The twin bill of Michael Torke鈥檚 bittersweet 鈥淪trawberry Fields鈥� (1999), performed in English, and Giacomo Puccini鈥檚 comic 鈥淕ianni Schicchi鈥� (1918), presented in Italian with English supertitles, share top billing on OCU鈥檚 historic Kirkpatrick stage.
The productions, directed by guest artist Claire Choquette, feature a 51-piece opera orchestra under the direction of Jan McDaniel.
鈥淲e paired two operas written 80 years apart, with very different musical styles, but connected in an interesting way,鈥� said David Herendeen, director of OCU鈥檚 Opera & Music Theater Company. 鈥淏oth operas are the third part of a trilogy and they both deal, very differently, with the passing of an elderly family member. One is voiced quite poignantly, and the other comically.鈥�
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22, with a 2 p.m. Feb. 23 matinee. Tickets ($15-$30) are available online at or by calling 405-208-5227. An opening night dinner ($25) in the Bass Music Center atrium will be held at 6:15 p.m. Friday, featuring a themed menu and entertainment by Bass School musicians. Free pre-show talks will begin 30 minutes before curtain of each performance.
Choquette, an 向日葵视频 native now based in Dallas, will direct both shows. A winner of Opera America鈥檚 Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize, she recently directed 鈥淟ittle Women鈥� at Fort Worth Opera, 鈥淪iren Song鈥� at Boston University, and 鈥淟ucia di Lammermoor鈥� at Painted Sky Opera.
OCU鈥檚 73rd consecutive season of operas and musicals concludes April 11-13 with Cole Porter鈥檚 鈥淎nything Goes.鈥�
