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Tickets & Information:Upcoming Operas: Suor Angelica and Little Red Riding Hood Opera Scenes Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan Fiddler on the Roof, by Jerry Bock (Joint production of Theater Dept./Music School) For Ticket Information, please contact the Twichell Auditorium Box Office at
Director’s NotesVision of Converse College's new Direction of the Opera Theatre; Rebecca (Becky) L. Turner Dear Opera Lovers and Converse Opera Theatre Patrons: Excited and blessed! What wonderful states of being, and I am truly feeling both of these since my arrival in Spartanburg and Converse College. Growing up in Georgia and attending Shorter College, my husband, Stafford, and I always knew of the fine reputation of the Petrie School of Music and of Converse College, and having attended a small, private college, we always envisioned ourselves being back in such an environment. So, imagine my joy in being offered the opportunity to work with such a fine faculty and to nurture such wonderful talent. What a blessing! This year’s Converse Opera Theatre season is filled with great operatic offerings. Our January 25-27 mainstage production in Twichell Auditorium features two exciting stories of two very different women. Giacomo Puccini’s Suor Angelica (with the libretto by Giovacchino Forzano) is one of verismo opera’s most beautiful and moving works. Sorrow, vengeance, joy and elation are just a few of the emotions provided by Forzano’s text, set to Puccini’s wonderful musical score. After experiencing this incredibly touching drama, who could leave the theater without feeling changed by this mother’s tragic, yet uplifting, story? Contrasting nicely, we offer Little Red Riding Hood by American composer Seymour Barab, a “deliciously” different take on the classic Grimm’s fairy tale! We have Little Red; Little Red’s Mother and Grandmother; and of course, the Wolf; however, we feel certain that at the end of the evening, the audience will have seen these characters as never before! Fortunately, our own Dr. David Berry will continue providing his wonderfully insightful Opera Talk prior to each performance. In addition to these exciting January performances, we will be presenting our Spring Opera Scenes on April 14 in Daniel Recital Hall. With works by Bizet, Britten, Handel, Menotti, Moore, Mozart, Offenbach, Strauss and von Weber, the evening promises to offer something for everyone. Converse Opera Theatre is pleased to announce its 2008-2009 season. The January 22-25 main stage production will feature The Mikado, one of Sir Arthur Gilbert and Sir William Schwenck Sullivan’s most delightful operettas, directed by distinguished Converse Alumnus and Professor Emeritus Ross Magoulas. Many of you remember Ross from his time at Converse and know of his incredible talent and knowledge. Who better to guide our singers in the classic G&S performing style than our own wonderful Ross? We have decided to move our Spring Opera Scenes to the Fall, with performances on October 17 & 18. This was done to accommodate our exciting addition of a production of Jerry Bock’s Fiddler on the Roof, March 19-22 in Twichell Auditorium! This classic of the Musical Theater repertory will be a joint venture between the Music and Theater Departments of Converse College, with Converse’s Brent Glenn as Director. So, as you can see, incredible things are happening with Converse Opera Theatre. We look forward to entertaining you at each and every one of our events! And, here’s a wish, from me, personally, that all of you will leave the theater feeling as I do every day here at Converse – excited and blessed! Rebecca Turner Director of Opera, Converse College |