BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University voice and theater students will present 12 short scenes and sections of opera from 10 popular productions at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.

The performance, which is open to the public free of charge, is presented as part of Dr. Jennifer Swanson’s opera workshop, a course through which students learn stage deportment, acting and other skills used in working with operatic repertoire.

This year, the performances will be offered in collaboration with students from Patrick Carriere’s stage directing course. His students will do the stage direction for all 12 scenes, which includes among others:
•    “Weekend in the Country,” the Act One Finale of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,”
•    three scenes from “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss Jr., and
•    scenes from “Magic Flute” by Mozart, “Hansel and Gretel” by Humperdinck and ”The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan.

All of the pieces will be sung in English, except for one scene from Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” which will be sung in German, and one piece from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” which will be sung in Italian. Swanson chose a variety of scenes to best accommodate her students’ voices, while also presenting them with appropriate dramatic challenges, including some that will challenge students to stretch their comfort zone a bit.

For more information, please call the Department of Music at (218) 755-2915.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Nov. 22 – 7:30 p.m. – Opera Scenes, short opera selections presented by Bemidji State University. Location: Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, BSU campus: Admission: free.