Kris Sabel, Executive Director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center, will host the complimentary “
Opera 101” Seminar for an evening offering an introduction to each opera that will be performed by Teatro Lirico D’Europa on
Saturday, February 20 and
Sunday, February 21.
Opera 101 will offer insight and background on both operas performed this weekend:
Verdi’s La Traviata and
Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (pictured here).
“Opera 101 is an event that we have been doing for years, with great success,” says Vilar Center Executive Director Kris Sabel.” “It’s an excellent opportunity for opera experts, as well as those new to opera to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of what they are about to see.”
Though often considered traditional, opera is in fact one of the fastest growing of all performing arts, attracting audiences of all ages.
“Opera speaks to very basic emotions that everyone can relate to,” Sabel says. “Common themes of love, hate, loss, jealousy, passion and death are all portrayed in opera performances.”
Sabel said that the motivation behind the annual “Opera 101” discussion is to review the plot, get to know the characters and gain insight into the history of the two operas presented the following weekend.
“There’s such a richness and depth of plot in opera,” Sabel explains. “There are often complicated relationships, conflicted characters and many layers of storyline. The point of Opera 101 is to arm the audience with a background of the story, the history, the people portrayed in each evening. It really helps people to connect on an even deeper level when they see the drama unfold on the Vilar Center stage.”
Following the Opera 101 seminar, Teatro Lirico D’Europa will perform two very different operas at the Vilar Center: Verdi’s
La Traviata on Saturday, February 20 at 6:30pm and Strauss’
Die Fledermaus on Sunday, February 21 at 6:30pm.
La Traviata details the ill-fated love affair between a young gentlemen and a terminally ill courtesan. The opera’s delicate blend of old and new styles has kept it ever fresh and appealing in modern opera houses. The story has all the traditional trappings of opera: passion, tragedy, love and death.
Die Fledermaus is a witty, melodious and charmingly frivolous comedy that revolves around practical jokes, faked identities, long-deliberated revenge and the power of champagne. Light-hearted and full of hilarious irony,
Die Fledermaus will have the audience swaying in their seats along with the champagne-infused characters of the opera.
“These are such drastically different operas,” Sabel says. “It’s a great opportunity to go from a romantic tragedy to a lighthearted comedy in the space of two evenings. The two performances also show the incredible range of Teatro Lirico D’Europa. They are truly world-class opera artists, and they prove that Saturday and Sunday when they perform two such different storylines.”
The Opera 101 seminar is completely free of charge, and is open to the public. The discussion will get underway in the May Gallery of the Vilar Performing Arts Center, adjacent to the lobby, at 6:30pm on Wednesday evening.
Tickets for
La Traviata and
Die Fledermaus can be found
HERE.
