Opera Theatre - Frostburg State University

WELCOME TO FSU OPERA THEATRE!

Opera Workshop at FSU is an opportunity for all Music majors to explore and learn about becoming a complete vocal performer. Opera is the largest form of vocal music that combines drama and music. This combination gives students the singular opportunity to work on their acting and musical skills. Under the direction of Dr. Mariana Mihai-Zoeter, opera students will perform opera scenes, full operas, and operettas from all centuries.

Most Recent Performance

The Wedding by Lantern-Light by Jacques Offenbach - one act operetta
November 15 and 16, 2012 at 8p.m. at Pealer Recital Hall
At Frostburg State, a tale will be told,
Of a marvelous treasure, more valuable than gold.
A show that shall be enjoyed upon site,
Called The Wedding by Lantern Light.
The story of Peter, given a treasure to explore,
Only to find, that it’s worth something more.
Meanwhile Two greedy widows fight for his hand,
And his cousin sits aloof, feeling particularly bland.
So who will Peter marry and take under his wings?
Find out at Frostburg, when the vesper bell rings.

(Dominic Rogers, junior-Music Management)

Cast

Peter-Lane Conklin, tenor
Denise- Britany Poindexter, soprano and Jessica Knouse, mezzo-soprano
Anne- Allison Moses, soprano
Catherine-Bailey Kerr, soprano
Policeman-Zachary Dodge, bass

Stage and Musical Director-Dr. Mariana Mihai-Zoeter
Accompanist- Dr. Jay de Wire
Guest Musician- Dr. Mark Gallagher, clarinet

Past Performances

2012- “An Aria in Spring” offered our FSU students the opportunity to explore a program of arias and scenes from Vanessa by Barber, Tosca and La Boheme by Puccini, Der Freischutz by Weber, Die Entfurung aus dem Serail, Le nozze di Figaro and Cosi fan tutte by Mozart, and Fra Diavolo by Auber.

2011- “Forever love” was a program which contained scenes from: Le fille du regiment by Donizetti, Lakme by Leo Delibes, Rodelinda by Handel, Faust by Gounod, La Boheme by Puccini, Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, The Count of Luxembourg by Lehar, Die Fledermaus by Strauss, and Le Cenerentolla by Rossini.

“A Night at the Opera” was our fall semester performance where students performed opera Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti.

2010- FSU Opera Theater presented scenes from: Cosi fan tutte and Le nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart, Faust by Gounod, Hansel und Gretel by Humperdinck, and L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti.

Here's what our students say:

“Opera, to me, is the epitome of music intertwined with performance; it is singers and instrumentalists coming together to express a plethora of emotions and situations almost solely through music. I can't express how deep my appreciation for it is.”

(Bailey Kerr, soprano-Music Management, junior)

“Opera is a synthesis of music with the other arts: literature, voice, stagecraft, dance, and set design are all combined to create it. How can one be a lover of any art form and not be a lover of opera?”

(Lane Conklin, tenor- Vocal Performance, senior)

“Opera is an opportunity for me to enter a world of make believe. It’s a chance for me to be someone other than myself for a just a little while. I love getting the opportunity to take an audience on a journey of pretend and experience that they may not get in other forms of art. I love opera and hope to always get the opportunity to escape into opera world for the rest of my life.”

(Britany Poindexter, soprano-Vocal Performance, senior)

“Opera is still a new art to me, but I think it is a great way to explore a story and its characters through music.”

(Allison Moses, soprano-Music Education, junior)

“To Zach, opera is a wonderful mixture of acting and music, a great cultural experience!”

(Zachary Dodge, bass-Music Education, senior)

“Opera to me is an opportunity to perform. I enjoyed musical theater and opera is being able to take my classical training to the next level.”

(Jessica Knouse, mezzo-soprano- Music Major, senior)

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