For many people, the words "classical" and "Mozart" are almost synonymous. La'Opera performs one of Mozart's most beloved operas The Magic Flute on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the University of Louisiana Monroe's Biedenharn Recital Hall.
The opera, written in 1791, was one of the master composer's last completed works, and is stylistically similar to modern musical theater. Songs are interrupted with dialogue, and the audience is even addressed directly -- a practice not common in many operas.
La'Opera performs all of the dialogue in English, but the songs in the original German with subtitles.
"We have solo songs, we have duets that beautiful and wonderful, we have funny quintets, and great, great characters," says Director Mark Clark.
The cast features local performers and educators as well as students such as University of Louisiana Monroe Professor Claire Vangelisti.
"My favorite part is working with all the faculty from all the different universities around, and getting to see how they work -- not as a teacher, but as a performer," says cast member and music student Miranda Gonzales.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts website.
