NAU Opera undertakes sophisticated material
NAU Opera will perform Benjamin Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia,” Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Ashurst Hall.
The opera takes place in Rome in war-time. Amidst the wives of the generals, Lucretia is the only woman faithful to her husband, Collatinus. The Etruscan prince, Tarquinius, is extremely attracted to Lucretia. He visits her while her husband is absent and rapes her. Collatinus, unable to understand her humiliation, thinks he must forgive her, leaving Lucretia traumatized by the event and distraught over her husband’s reaction. She commits suicide.
“This is a good piece for young singers, and confronts them with a basic conflict in life. They learn to think and to become aware,” said Nando Schellen, NAU Opera director. “I’m very impressed with the singers’ maturity.”
Schellen has double-cast the roles.
He will direct NAU students Maria Lopez and Rachael Hirsch as Lucretia, Roland Mills and Ben Perkins as the male chorus, Amy Warters and Staci Dickens as female chorus, Quentin Lee and Jared Levin as Collatinus and David Bracamonte and Toby Kidd as Tarquinius. The roles of Lucia and Bianca, two servants of Lucretia, are performed by Erin Entringer and Casey Kraft as Lucia and Kia Crotinger and Michelle Trinidad as Bianca.
The opera will be directed by Schellen, conducted by Nicholas Ross, director
of orchestras, and NAU alumnus, Chris Engbretson will play the piano version
of the opera, originally composed for accompaniment by a chamber orchestra.
Britten, known as the greatest British dramatic composer of the 20th century,
wrote “The Rape of Lucretia” in 1946 for the mezzo soprano Kathleen
Ferrier. It was his first so-called chamber opera.
The opera will be performed Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. There will be a lecture in Ashurst Hall, 45 minutes before each performance. Tickets are $10 for faculty and students, $13.50 for seniors, and $15 for adults.
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Online: nau.edu/cto