PURCHASE COLLEGE OPERA PRESENTS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Purchase College-SUNY will bring top-tier opera to the Westchester community with a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on March 13-15, 2014. The lavishly staged opera—featuring the Purchase Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hugh Murphy—will be performed in the Recital Hall of the Purchase College Performing Arts Center (735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the world’s most entertaining English-language operas, with music composed by the acclaimed master Benjamin Britten and libretto adapted from the William Shakespeare play. The production will be performed by students of the Purchase College Conservatory of Music’s renowned Department of Opera Performance and Vocal Studies, along with two alumni in leading roles.

Performances will be presented:

• Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 pm

• Friday, March 14 at 7:30 pm

Ticket prices are $20 or $15 for seniors. For further information or to purchase tickets, please call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 914.251.6200 or visit: http://www.artscenter.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=4903

Purchase College’s Department of Opera Performance and Vocal Studies is a highly selective program designed to train and mentor serious students in professional classical singing. Since 1998, the program has been led by Jacque Trussel, an American tenor who performed with the foremost opera companies throughout North America and Europe. Trussel is also director of the Purchase Opera.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream was selected to showcase the voices of the many talented students in our program. It is an ideal opportunity for students to gain experience performing, while we also bring wonderful opera to local audiences,” says Trussel. “As an interesting side note, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s birth—and we are delighted to help celebrate his legacy.” 

In addition to public performances of opera scenes, art song evenings, solo recitals, and choral works, Purchase College’s Department of Opera Performance and Vocal Studies presents two operas a year. These productions have been acclaimed for inventiveness and a high level of professional quality, winning ten prestigious National Opera Association – Best Opera of the Year awards.