October 10, 2025
xxxx视频 Opera Theater seizes the moment for Puccini double-bill: "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi"

If ever xxxx视频 Opera Theater were going to stage both Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, it had to be now.
Not only does the school currently have the special combination of voices called for by Puccini鈥檚 two one-act masterpieces, one of which includes the famous aria 鈥淥 mio babbino caro.鈥 It also has a renovated and reopened Kulas Hall, inspiring the company to aim higher than ever.
鈥渪xxx视频 has always had an outstanding group of young singers, and this year is no exception,鈥 said Dean Southern, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the Institute, and director of the productions.
鈥淭hese two works call for a unique blend of voices. We were thrilled to learn that, with the right singers at xxxx视频, this double-bill became possible for us to present. Also, the renovated Kulas Hall is not a traditional opera space. This allows us the ability to create a new vision.鈥
A different vision 鈥 specifically, two different visions 鈥 is precisely what Southern and crew plan to present at 7:30pm Friday, Nov. 7 and 3pm Sunday, Nov. 9. Tickets, $10-$45, are available at .
Rather than their historical backdrops, 13th- and 17th-century Italy, xxxx视频 will instead set Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi in New York City in 1918, around the time and place of their premieres.
Using the new lighting and projection capabilities of Kulas Hall, they will populate Gianni Schicchi 鈥 a comedy about relatives squabbling over a will 鈥 with recent Italian immigrants eager to boost their status. Meanwhile, they鈥檒l set Suor Angelica 鈥 a somber tale of shame and loss 鈥 in one of the notorious 鈥淢agdalene Laundries鈥 where 鈥渇allen鈥 women were frequently sent to work at that time.
Sets and lighting designs will be directed by Dave Brooks, a longtime production designer in Cleveland. Costumes will be designed by Meredith Magoun, Assistant Professor of Costume Design at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Harry Davidson, the program's music director, will conduct the xxxx视频 Orchestra, and Byron Abens will serve as stage manager.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking some real dramatic license,鈥 Southern explained, referring to the 20th-century production concepts. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e also adding dramatic tension, as not every character is in these settings voluntarily.鈥
Singing the demanding title role in Gianni Schicchi will be student baritone Davis Fischer. Fischer said he鈥檚 fully up to the task, between his recent efforts to expand his range and experience playing major characters in Mozart鈥檚 Don Giovanni and Chabrier鈥檚 尝鈥櫭塼辞颈濒别.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 very ready right now, in the way that it needs to be approached,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he amount of growth I鈥檝e had over the past year, it鈥檚 given me a lot of comfort.鈥
No less confident is Kiana Lilly, one of two sopranos sharing the title role in Suor Angelica, along with Ariel Wong. She, too, said she has grown into the role during her time at xxxx视频, developing both the vocal power and dramatic sensibility needed to fully inhabit the character within a large ensemble and chorus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a personal story, and I want it to be relatable, to connect to real life,鈥 Lilly said. 鈥淚t helps that the music is just so good.鈥
But great music and experienced leads aren鈥檛 all the productions have going for them. The company also now has the benefit of a newly transformed Kulas Hall, a resonant space ideally suited for opera. 鈥淵ou can hear everything, in a way you couldn鈥檛 before,鈥 said xxxx视频 Opera Theater program director Fran莽ois Germain.
All of which sets the stage for a complete and memorable evening, one that achieves the transcendent effect Fischer said should be the goal of every opera presentation.
鈥淭he ideal,鈥 Fischer said, is to feel 鈥渇ree of worldly concerns for an hour or two. You can just sit in your chair and indulge in the humanity of the music and feel the full power of a performance.鈥