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William E. Schmidt Foundation, Season Sponsor

with support from the Jim and Recie Scott Opera Education Fund and Friends of Miami Opera

CHAMBER OPERA FESTIVAL

Celebrating 350 years of opera history, Miami Opera invites you to attend our Spring Chamber Festival presenting three works over two weekends in February and March! Seating is limited to 80, so secure your tickets early!

NIGHT ONE

THE IMPRESARIO

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Directed by Tiffany Lusht
Music Direction by Benjamin Smolder
Janice Murray, Pianist
Scenic Design by Gion DeFrancesco

DIDO & AENEAS

by Henry Purcell
Stage and Music Direction by Benjamin Smolder

Thursday, February 23 at 7:30pm
Saturday Matinee, February 25 at 3pm
Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30pm
Friday, March 3 at 7:30pm

Studio 88
Center for the Performing Arts

Ticket Prices $15 Adult,
$12 Seniors
Use code "Senior" at checkout
$5 for Students
Use code "Student Tix" at checkout

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The Meeting of Dido and Aeneas exhibited 1766 Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland 1735-1811 Purchased with assistance from the Art Fund 1993 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T06736

These works are paired in a single evening.
(Performance time 1 hour 40 minutes)

NIGHT TWO

PAUL'S CASE

Music by Gregory Spears
Libretto based on short story by Willa Cather
Directed by Benjamin Smolder

Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm
Saturday, February 25 at 7:30pm
Thursday, March 2 at 7:30pm

Studio 88
Center for the Performing Arts

Ticket Prices $15 Adult, $12 Seniors
(Use code "Senior" at checkout)
$5 for Students
(Use code "Student Tix" at checkout)

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MU Opera Theater takes place among top US programs

In 2006, Charles Parsons of Opera News attended a performance of Miami Opera Theater’s production of Paul Bunyan by Benjamin Britten at Hall Auditorium. In his review, he referred to Miami Opera Theater as the 'hidden gem’ of the tri-state region. This production went on to garner Miami Opera’s first award from the National Opera Association for Outstanding Collegiate Production. This year marks the fifth national award for the opera program with a first-place designation for the 2022 production of Hydrogen Jukebox by Philip Glass. "This work affirms the work of our students, voice faculty, and creative team in building a fine program for training aspiring singers," states Benjamin Smolder, Director of Miami Opera.

Hydrogen Jukebox

Celebrating Diverse Voices

Through a generous grant made available from the MIAMI Women’s Hawk Tank Grant the Miami University voice students presented a series of three concerts in the Spring and Fall of 2020-21 to celebrate the works of African-American and Women Composers. The grant was spearheaded by Anna Greco (class of 2022) and Dr. Alison Acord. Students had the opportunity to present three concerts to the public that were streamed live and to coach with a wonderful team of artist to prepare for the event. Coaches included Angel Blue, Adrienne Danrich, Ellen Hargis, Dr. Latoya Lain, composer Lori Laitman, Mary Henderson Stucky, Tamara Wilson, and Miami’s own Dr. Christina Haan. This concert provided a wonderful platform to hear the works of underrepresented composers.

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Grammy Award-Winning Soprano Jessica Rivera joins Miami University Voice Faculty

Possessing a voice praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for its “effortless precision and tonal luster,” Grammy Award-winning soprano Jessica Rivera is one of the most creatively inspired vocal artists performing before the public today. The intelligence, dimension and spirituality with which she infuses her performances on great international concert and opera stages has garnered Ms. Rivera unique artistic collaborations with many of today’s most celebrated composers, including John Adams, Osvaldo Golijov, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jonathan Leshnoff, Nico Muhly, and Paola Prestini, and has brought her together with such esteemed conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Robert Spano, Markus Stenz, Bernard Haitink, and Michael Tilson Thomas.

Committed to the art of recital, Ms. Rivera has appeared in concert halls in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and Santa Fe. She was deeply honored to receive a commission from Carnegie Hall for the World Premiere of Nico Muhly’s song cycle entitled The Adulteress, for her Weill Hall recital performance. As a recording artist, Ms. Rivera’s extensive discography includes releases on the Deutsche Grammophon, Nonesuch, Naxos, Telarc, Urtext, VIA Records, Opus Arte, CSO Resound, and ASO Media labels.

Storytelling and Design

Learn more about the production elements of our shows, synopsis, and the Great American Songbook Project. Gain insight into the historical context of each production before attending a live performance. Witness our behind the scenes process including rehearsals, design, and production.

learn

Media

See videos of past performances. Go behind the scenes to get a glimpse into the rehearsal process.

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Contact

109 Presser Hall
501 South Patterson Avenue
Oxford, OH 45056
[email protected]

Staff

Benjamin Smolder, Director
Tiffany Lusht, Production Manager
Christina Haan, Vocal Coach
Janice Murray, Répéteur

Season Patrons

William E. Schmidt Foundation
The Jim and Recie Scott Opera Education Endowment Fund

About

Miami University Opera Theater is an important part of the rich and diverse musical experiences that Miami University has to offer. MU Opera is unique in its design because it operates with a professional production team committed to supporting student performers. Our goal is to give students a robust, hands-on experience that will teach them the importance of all roles in the theater as well as how to operate in a professional theater environment. Students have the opportunity to assume leadership positions in every part of production, and learn from professional lighting designers, choreographers, directors, stage managers, sound designers, and more. Miami Opera believes that the art form gains from diversity, inclusion, and equity and we are committed to those values.

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