Morung Express News
The Margaret Shishak School of Music at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) will present a special Opera Workshop production titled “Love & Deception” on Friday, May 12 at 6:00 pm.
This fully staged operatic show includes excerpts from two of opera’s most mischievous plays – Die Fledermaus or The Revenge of the Batby Johanne Strauss and Le Nozze Di Figaro or The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Mozart.
In both of these iconic operas, lovers and unfaithful spouses are caught up in never ending deception and disguise. Who will be caught and who will escape? Will true love bring forgiveness in the end? Come to the show tonight and find out.
Both operas will be presented in English and performed entirely by MSSM’s first graduating class. The production is directed by MSSM Professor Jane van der Linden, a mezzo-soprano from the United States who has performed lead roles in several operas herself. She has been teaching voice and other lecture courses at Patkai since August 2016.
Discussing the show Jane shares, “we chose to perform excerpts from two operas in order to present a variety of famous musical numbers as well as showcase the talents of multiple students in lead roles.”
These excerpts include the challenging and hilarious “Watch Duet” from Die Fledermaus, the beautiful Soprano duet “Sull’ Aria” from Le Nozze Di Figaro, and the classic Act II and Act IV Finales from both operas respectively.
The show will be performed in the MSSM lobby which the production crew has transformed into a ballroom in Austria and a lush garden with stunning sets for the first opera. The second opera, Figaro, is set in Nagaland. While originally set in Seville, Spain, this iconic opera over the years has been creatively re-imagined in a variety of time periods and places.
Extending an open invitation to all, Jane says that the talented singers have worked hard the whole semester to present their audience with a beautiful and entertaining show.
“We hope you’ll not only laugh at the hilarious exploits of these well-known characters but also enjoy the gorgeous and moving music that underscores the twists and turns of love and deception.”
