Posted on September 21, 2009.
A charming, elegant Viennese operetta with lush waltzes, rip-roaring polkas and gorgeous costumes.
“The story is a romantic comedy about a young married couple who go out to a ball to have some fun at each other's expense, and wind up falling in love with each other,” says William Ferrara, stage director for the OU School of Music Opera Theatre.
The University of Oklahoma School of Music Opera Theatre and School of Dance presents Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” (The Revenge of the Bat) at 8 p.m., Oct. 8-10, and at 3 p.m., Oct. 11, in the OU Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Oklahoma’s only European-style performance hall.
“Die Fledermaus” is a 19th century comic operetta by the Viennese composer Johann Strauss. The light-hearted farce is a series of practical jokes and mischievous deceptions among a group of friends, their servants and the local prince. A high point of the production is the masked ball at the prince’s castle. The operetta is sung in the original German with supertitles in English projected above the stage in the magnificent performance hall of the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.
"The collaboration between the School of Dance and OU Opera Theatre for ‘Die Fledermaus’ affords our dancers the opportunity of performing with vocal artists on stage and dancing to the beautiful music of the live orchestra. All combine to create an invaluable experience for their future as professional dancers,” says Jeremy Lindberg, director of choreography and associate professor of Ballet for the OU School of Dance.
OU Opera Theatre artistic director, Jonathan Shames conducts the OU Symphony Orchestra. The Norman Arts Council and Norman Hotel Fund provide funds to assist the OU Musical Theatre/Opera Guild’s matinee performance for students in area secondary schools.
The University of Oklahoma Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center is located in historic Holmberg Hall at 540 Parrington Oval, in the OU Arts District! Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for OU faculty/staff and seniors; and $10 for students. For tickets or accommodations on the basis of disability, please call the Fine Arts Box Office at (405) 325-4101.