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Office of External Communications |
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For many opera companies, the very thought of staging “The Ghosts of Versailles” is a haunting proposition. Considering the many voices needed to fill its cast, this opera can be challenging to produce. Not so for the University of Houston’s Edythe Bates Old Moores Opera Center, which will offer Houston audiences a rare glimpse of this infrequently performed opera. Even more special is that this production helps mark the 10th anniversary
of the opening of UH’s Moores Opera House. “Ghosts”
was one of the first operas performed in the opera house when it
opened its doors 10 years ago and will again take its stage at 7:30
p.m., Friday, March 30 and Monday, April 2 and at 2 p.m., “This was the first major piece to be performed in this beautiful hall,” said Buck Ross, director of the Moores Opera Center. “This is a rare opportunity to witness this work and a good way to celebrate this wonderful opera house, which has become a cornerstone of Houston’s arts scene.” Written by composer John Corigliano and librettist William M. Hoffman, “Ghosts” contains 25 principal vocal roles. Its story focuses on the lost souls of the court of Marie Antoinette trying to rewrite history by staging an opera production in the afterlife featuring characters from “The Barber of Seville” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” Corigliano and Hoffman will attend the opening evening’s performance. They also will participate in special panel discussion, “The Nature of the Collaborative Process in Opera,” at 6:30 pm., Thursday, March 29 in the Moores Opera House. Joining them for this event will be Ross and Robert Nelson, UH professor of composition and music theory. This event is free. General reserved seating tickets are $15 and $10 for students and seniors. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 713.743.3313. For more information about the Moores Opera Center, visit http://www.music.uh.edu/mooresopera/index.html.
For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom. |
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