The Opera Theater in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music will present an evening of short operas by leading American composers on Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. in the Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. The performances are free and open to the public.
The program of “An American Triptych: Three Contemporary One-Act Operas” will begin with the mini-opera “Lucy” by award-winning composer Tom Cipullo. Local music fans will remember the stunning success of Cipullo’s full-length opera “Glory Denied,” which opened Syracuse Opera’s 2015-16 season. “Lucy” will feature the outstanding soprano Jing Liu, a graduate voice performance student, in the title role.
The second work will be “Thyrsis & Amaranth,” with words and music by Steven Serpa, a student of Cipullo’s, to whom the opera is dedicated. “Thyrsis & Amaranth” is based on a fable by Jean de la Fontaine.
The program will conclude with “Speed Dating Tonight” by the musical polymath Michael Ching. Since its premiere at North Carolina’s Brevard Music Center in 2013, “Speed Dating Tonight” has become an operatic phenomenon, with dozens of productions nationwide on the strength of its eclectic, accessible score and contemporary subject matter.
Both Ching and Cipullo will visit Syracuse and work with the student cast as part of the Baker Artist Series. A forum and master class with Cipullo will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m. at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Theater Complex, 820 E. Genesee St., under the auspices of the Society for New Music. This event is free and open to the public.
“An American Triptych” is produced and directed by Eric Johnson, with musical direction by Kathleen Haddock, who will preside at the piano. Both are members of the Setnor School of Music’s faculty.
For most Setnor Auditorium events, free and accessible parking is available in the Q1 lot. Additional parking is available in the Irving Garage. Campus parking availability is subject to change; call 315-443-2191 for current information or for more information about the operas.
The Baker Artists Program creates opportunities for students to connect with renowned music professionals through a robust and engaging residency program. Founded in 2013 by a grant from the Dexter F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation, the program brings leading performers, educational scholars, composers and industry leaders to the Setnor School of Music, the Syracuse University campus, and the larger Syracuse community by providing master classes, lectures and performances.
