April 13, 2015—On Friday, April 24 and Sunday, April 26, the award-winning University of Oregon Opera Ensemble will present "Hänsel und Gretel," a family-friendly opera, in the Soreng Theater at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.
A tale of witches, candy, faith, and retribution, Engelbert Humperdinck's version of the Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale is perfect for families and opera lovers alike. The opera will be performed in German, with English-language supertitles projected.
General admission tickets are $15, with reduced-fare tickets available for senior citizens ($12) and students ($7), available at the door or in advance from the UO Ticket Office in McArthur Court (EMU South), 541-346-4363, tickets.uoregon.edu; or from the Hult Center box office 541-682-5000.
The UO Opera Ensemble presents professional-caliber, award-winning performances. The ensemble placed second in the 2013 Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition, Division II for performers age 23 and older, of the National Opera Association. More recently, several UO opera students placed in various categories at the 2015 National Association of Teachers of Singing Cascade Chapter’s Classical Festival, held March 7 at Portland State University.
In 2013, the Opera Ensemble toured to Costa Rica, performing at community centers and schools.
Dr. Karen Esquivel, director of the UO Opera Ensemble, says that Hult Center audiences will find themselves transported by the production's ear-catching melodies and lush romantic orchestration, not to mention a story filled with real-life drama and magical forests.
"For me, ‘Hänsel und Gretel’ speaks to the truth of spirituality in the real world; that when we are beyond ourselves, God will provide,” says Esquivel. “Also, the music is just gorgeous.”
Shannon McAleb, a vocal performance graduate student at the UO, will sing the role of Hänsel’s and Gretel’s mother, a character McAleb describes as “hot-blooded.”
"This is my first full role in a foreign language,” McAleb explains. “The experience of performing in another language is especially important for young American singers.”
Event details:
Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, 3 p.m. (no performance April 25)
University of Oregon Opera Ensemble presents "Hänsel und Gretel”
Soreng Theater, Hult Center for the Performing Arts
$15 general admission, $12 senior citizens, $7 students