Music
Opera at Simpson
February 17-18, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
February 19 at 2 p.m.
Lekberg Hall
Amy Robertson Music Center
Indianola, Iowa
Tickets: $15
515-961-1637
Ticket office hours are Weekdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cosi fan tutte, when two men wager with another on their fiancées' fidelity they unleash a series of consequences that profoundly impact all of them. Originally titled "The School for Lovers," Mozart's and Da Ponte's comedy is also an exploration of desire and a revelation of human foibles, a fable with no moral, in which the composer poured out some of his most personal, heartfelt music.
(Video Courtesy of Dustin Dooley)
The Opera at Simpson's last production, “Die Fledermaus” was sung in English with a student cast, chorus and orchestra. It was musically directed by Bernard McDonald, Simpson's opera director, and stage directed by Assistant Professor of Music Bruce Brown.
Welcome to opera at Simpson College. If you are an aspiring singer, pianist, conductor, stage manager, lighting designer, stage director, set designer, costume designer, or vocal coach, or if you are interested in musical theatre and seek a broad liberal arts education, you can do no better than begin at Simpson College. We offer a unique opera program that is fully musically and technically resourced, supported by a professional orchestra, in an intimate, purpose-built theatre. For instrumentalists there is the invaluable opportunity to partner professional players in the orchestra for Simpson productions. We boast an internationally-recognized professional opera company in our backyard, where students can gain their first professional experiences. All of the voice, coaching, and conducting faculty have professional careers, national and international credentials as performers, and are a close-knit team dedicated to developing the tradition of excellence established over many decades. This performing tradition within a liberal arts context explains why Simpson College punches massively above its weight in the number of professional singers, artistic administrators, choral directors, conductors, and music educators it has produced.
Simpson College enjoys a historic close partnership with the Des Moines Metro Opera. It provides Simpson students with the invaluable opportunity to experience professional opera on their doorstep, and to serve as interns and production staff in the summer opera festival. Many singers from Simpson have taken part in the DMMO Apprenticeship Program, an opportunity afforded usually to only the most talented graduate students and young professional singers from all over the United States.
Whether you are a prospective student, parent, teacher, audience member, a newcomer to opera, or a longstanding fan, or an alumnus/alumna, I would be delighted to hear from you.
Sincerely yours,
Bernard McDonald
Director of Opera
G. Dewey and M. Maine Larsen Chair in Opera and Musical Coaching
bernard.mcdonald@simpson.edu
515-961-1371
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Contact Simpson College
800-362-2454 (toll-free)
or
515-961-6251 (locally)
Admissions:
800-362-2454 (toll-free)
or
515-961-1624 (locally)
Admissions office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon through Fri
