The UNCG Opera Theatre presents
Mozart’s ‘The Impresario’
and
Puccini’s ‘Suor Angelica’
Join the UNCG School of Music for an evening of “the ridiculous to the sublime” as we present Mozart’s The Impresario / Impresaria—an hilarious spoof on a battle of two “divas.” We make you laugh and then pull on your heartstrings with Puccini’s tragic and moving Suor Angelica—a story of self-sacrifice and unselfish love.
- March 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm
- March 24 at 2:00 pm
All performances in the UNCG Auditorium
Admission
- $10 – Adults
- $5 – Students (ALL students – UNCG and non-UNCG)
price does not include processing fee
Purchase Tickets (etix.com)
cast and staff on stage
About the UNCG Opera Theatre
The UNCG Opera Theatre, under the direction of David Holley, annually produces at least four operas. In the fall, our annual “Tour to the Schools” reaches over 10,000 area school children and a chamber opera is presented in November (Amahl and the Night Visitors in even years). In the spring, the School of Music and the School of Theatre join forces on a large-scale opera, and the UNCG Opera Theatre collaborates with the Greensboro Opera to present GO’s signature outreach program, “Opera at the Carolina,” in which every fifth grader in Guilford County (6,000+) attends a live opera at the downtown Carolina Theatre.
Since 1993, UNCG’s productions have regularly earned awards in the National Opera Association’s Annual Opera Production Competition, including seven first place awards for: Susannah, Little Women, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Consul, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Don Giovanni. Second place was awarded for our productions of Gianni Schicchi, Albert Herring, La vida breve, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, and Philip Glass’s Galileo Galilei, which Mr. Glass attended, and he worked with our cast.
In the spring of 2009, the UNCG Opera Theatre proudly presented the world premiere of Libby Larsen’s Picnic which was commissioned in 2004 by a generous grant from the Charles A. Babock Foundation.
Other significant UNCG Opera Theatre highlights include the 2003 North Carolina premier of Mark Adamo’s Little Women. Mr. Adamo attended opening night and was in residence to work with the cast for several days the week before. As a result, audio excerpts from our production appear (upon Mr. Adamo’s recommendation) on Thirty New Operas, a two-CD set that G. Schirmer has produced and distributed to opera companies worldwide.
Alumni of the UNCG College of Visual and Performing Arts have been on the rosters of some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Metropolitan Opera (Joel Sorensen, Sidney Outlay, Ian Greenlaw), The New York City Opera (Jason Karn), The Chicago Lyric Opera (Melinda Whittington), The San Francisco Opera (Joel Sorensen), and The Houston Grand Opera (Tyler Smith), and as well as major summer festivals, such as Wolf Trap (Melinda Whittington) and Central City Opera (Andrew Owens).
There are many performing opportunities in the Greensboro area for aspiring professional singers. The UNCG Opera Theatre has an official partnership with Greensboro Opera, which provides an excellent opportunity for UNCG’s students to gain valuable experience alongside seasoned professionals. David Holley was appointed Artistic Director of Greensboro Opera in 2013, and artists recently appearing in Greensboro include several on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera (Sandra Piques Eddy, René Barbera, Ashley Emerson, Sidney Outlaw, and David Pershall). UNCG students have been cast in supporting roles and are often hired to sing in the chorus. In addition, Piedmont Opera (Winston-Salem), North Carolina Opera (Raleigh), and Opera Carolina (Charlotte) are all thriving regional companies within 90 minutes of Greensboro.
One of the primary missions of the UNCG Opera Theatre is outreach to the community, and in particular, educating children about opera. Activities include on-campus matinee performances and an annual tour to elementary schools; the latter has trained many singers who have gone on to year-round Young Artist Programs in which they perform children’s programs for regional companies and summer YAP’s. The UNCG Opera Theatre annually introduces over 18,000 school children to the wonderful world of opera.
Additional partnerships forged with Triad organizations include collaborations with The Philharmonia of Greensboro and the North State Chorale (Cavalleria Rusticana, Susannah), The English Speaking Union of Greensboro (Trial by Jury), The Greensboro Youth Chorus (Hansel and Gretel and La bohème), West Market United Methodist Church (The Wise Women), Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Dialogues of the Carmelites), and The Music Academy of North Carolina and Westover Church (Amahl and the Night Visitors).
The UNCG Opera Theatre benefits from the strong Collaborative Piano program, led by Dr. James Douglass. Many singers have individual coaching with Dr. Douglass or Professor Rebecca Wilt, and many times the graduate assistant pianists assigned to the opera theatre are in the collaborative program, creating a dynamic process in which both singers and pianists learn from each other.
For more information, please write to David Holley, Director of Opera at: [email protected]
Degree Programs
UNCG does not offer degree programs specific to Opera Theatre. However, students studying Voice have the opportunity to perform with the Opera Theatre program. UNCG offers the following degree programs for students interested in studying Voice:
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Music Education
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Music Performance (including jazz)
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Composition
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) – Music
Music Minor
Graduate Programs
Master of Music (M.M.) – Performance
Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) – Music
Certificate Programs
Opera Outreach Program
The UNCG Opera Theatre believes that the cultural education of our young children is of utmost importance. Read about the UNCG Opera Theatre Outreach Program.
Opera Theatre Faculty
Prof. David Holley
Past & Recent UNCG Opera Theatre Repertoire
2015-2016
The Old Maid and the Thief / Slow Dusk / Savitri
The Ugly Duckling (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Alone (2015 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Mark Engebretson)
Dialogues of the Carmelites
2014-2015
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Jack and the Beanstalk (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Alien Invasion (2014 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Anna Meadors
Beauty and the Beast (Giannini)
Galileo Galilei (Philip Glass)
2013-2014
Albert Herring
Carmenella (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Magic of the Golden Hair (2013 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Alejandro Rutty)
Hansel and Gretel
Le nozze di Figaro
2012-2013
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (“Tour to the Schools” production)
GOT OPERA? Alumni Opera Gala (co-produced with the Greensboro Opera)
Help, Help, the Globolinks!
Jacks are Wild! (2012 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Mark Engebretson)
Cendrillon (Cinderella)
2011-2012
Amahl and the Night Visitors (produced for Roanoke Island Festival Park)
Suor Angelica/Gallantry
Little Red Riding Hood (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Fight to Be Favorite (2011 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Alejandro Rutty)
Don Giovanni
2010-2011
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Figatroll and the Three Billy Goats Gruff (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Chicks (2010 “Write Your Own Opera” winner – composed by Mark Engebretson)
Hansel and Gretel
2009-2010
Trial by Jury / The Impresario
The Ugly Duckling (“Tour to the Schools” production)
L’Enfant et les sortilèges (Ravel)
L’Enfant Prodigue (Debussy)
2008-2009
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Jack and the Beanstalk (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Bartered Bride
Picnic (Libby Larsen – World Premiere!)
2007-2008
Barnum’s Bird (Libby Larsen)
Carmenella (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Mikado
La vida breve (in Spanish)
Second place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
2006-2007
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ( “Tour to the Schools” production)
“Bravi, tutti!” Alumni Opera Gala
The Ballad of Baby Doe
“From Pops to Puccini” (Act II of Die Fledermaus & Selections from Classic Musical Theatre)
2005-2006
HMS Pinafore
Little Red Riding Hood (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Gianni Schicchi/”The Will” (presented as a Greensboro Opera 2005-2006 mainstage production)
The Tenderland
2004-2005
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Figatroll and the Three Billy Goats Gruff (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Mighty Casey
Lakme’ (in French)
2003-2004
Little Women (North Carolina premiere)
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
Mark Adamo residency
Così fan tutte
Susannah (Mark Ross Clark, guest stage director)
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
The Ugly Duckling (“Tour to the Schools” production)
2002-2003
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai)
The Pirates of Penzance
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial since 1998)
Jack and the Beanstalk (“Tour to the Schools” production)
2001-2002
Falstaff (Alumni opera; concert version, in Italian)
Roman Fever (Robert Ward)
The Three Little Pigs (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Cavalleria Rusticana (in Italian)
The Magic Flute
2000-2001
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial production since 1998)
Carmenella (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Old Maid and the Thief
Orpheus in the Underworld
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
1999-2000
The Wise Women (Conrad Susa)
Talk Opera (Milton Granger)
The Consul
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
1998-1999
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Biennial production since 1998)
Figatroll and the Three Billy Goats Gruff(“Tour to the Schools” production)
Trial by Jury
Hansel and Gretel
1997-1998
Albert Herring
Second place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
Sweet Betsy from Pike/La Pizza del Destino
The Telephone/Rumpelstiltskin (“Tour to the Schools” production)
The Marriage of Figaro
1996-1997
Little Red Riding Hood (“Tour to the Schools” production)
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Annual production, 1993-1996)
The Dialogues of the Carmelites
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
La Bohème (in Italian)
1995-1996
The Three Little Pigs
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Annual production, 1993-1996)
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
Cendrillon (Cinderella – Jules Massenet)
1994-1995
The Stoned Guest (P.D.Q. Bach)
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Annual production, 1993-1996)
Street Scene
1993-1994
A Hand of Bridge
Amahl and the Night Visitors (Annual production, 1993-1996)
Don Giovanni (in Italian)
First place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
1992-1993
Suor Angelica (in Italian)
Gianni Schicchi
Second place winner, National Opera Association Opera Production Competition
GLOS is led by founder and Artistic Director, David Holley, who is also the Artistic Director of Greensboro Opera, Past President of the National Opera Association and the Director of Opera at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The GLOS faculty has taught and worked at prestigious summer festivals in the US and abroad, including AIMS (Graz), the Schlern International Music Festival, the Ohio Light Opera, and the Brevard Music Center. The program is partially administered through the UNCG Online, and thus, academic credit (3 credit hours) is earned during the program.