The USD Opera offers students the opportunity to bring music and drama to life on the stage. The multiple national award-winning program trains performers to become believable and compelling singing-actors in operatic literature from the Baroque period through the contemporary lyric theater.
Every year, USD Opera produces a minimum of two productions. The fall production consists of a children’s opera, one-act or scenes program and includes outreach opportunities in the region. In the spring, USD Opera produces a full main stage opera with orchestra.
Opera students find out who they are as artists as they receive individual attention and personalized guidance from dedicated, highly skilled and acclaimed faculty. Find your voice, unlock your potential and discover your passion for a lifetime.
Step into the spotlight!
2023-24 Season Information
FALL
Love, Jealousy, Deception, and Forgiveness. Join singers from USD Opera as they present highlights from Mozart/da Ponte’s comedic masterpiece Le Nozze di Figaro, this Fall 2023. The second in Beaumarchais’ famed Figaro Trilogy, Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) follows the events leading up to the marriage of Figaro and his bride-to-be, Susanna. As Count Almaviva’s love for Rosina wanes, he now has his eyes set on Susanna, doing everything he can to delay the wedding. Figaro, Susanna, and Rosina must now devise a plan to expose Almaviva. Things get complicated when Bartolo and Marcellina present information that could force Figaro to marry Marcellina due to an outstanding debt. Rosina and Susanna are left to come up with their own plan, and what ensues is a comedic series of events that exposes the Count and leads to the happy couple finally getting married.
Director: Dr. Juan Carlos Mendoza
Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Colton Recital Hall
$10 adults
$5 seniors (62+)
$5 K-12
Free to current USD students with USD ID
Free to benefit-eligible USD Faculty/Staff w/USD ID
Tickets available at the door one hour before curtain (cash or check only) and online via credit card. Check back for online ticket information in November.
WINTER
4th Annual “Death by Chocolate & Aria” Opera Gala
Saturday, January 27, 2023
Dinner at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Valiant Vineyards Winery & Distillery
1500 W. Main St., Vermillion
Ticket Prices TBA (includes wine, dinner, dessert, entertainment)
Live and silent auction items will be available
Tickets will be available online starting December 8 at: https://usdfoundation.org/donate/opera
SPRING
USD Opera presents an exciting world premiere opera entitled Notes on Viardot, based on the intriguing life of opera diva Pauline Viardot. This opera was commissioned by the USD Opera from renowned composer, Michael Ching.
Viardot was an internationally famed singer, highly respected voice teacher, exemplary pianist, and gifted composer who came from a prominent, high-powered musical family living in Paris in the 19th century. The opera takes a behind-the-scenes look at her professional and personal life, including her rumored affair with Russian poet Ivan Turgenev all the while married to Louis Viardot, a man 21 years her senior. Along the journey of her life, you will meet an array of Pauline’s famous friends, family and colleagues, including George Sand, Clara Schumann, Maria Malibran and more.
Music and libretto by Michael Ching
Director: Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland
Conductor: Michael Ching
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 28, 20234 at 3pm
Aalfs Auditorium (inside Slagle Hall)
$15 adults
$12 seniors (62+)
$5 K-12
Free to current USD students/w USD ID
Free to benefit-eligible USD Faculty/Staff w/ USD ID
Tickets available at the door one hour before curtain (cash or check only) and online starting April 5.
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