The Drake Opera Theater will present Giuseppe Verdi’s famous comedic opera, Falstaff, on Feb. 22-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in the Harmon Fine Arts Center.
Conducted by newly appointed director Stefano Vignati, the Drake Opera Theater staff are thrilled to bring opera to the University and Des Moines community.
“It is an honor and a privilege to join Drake Opera Theater, with its deep history of growing new generations of opera singers and enriching opera performances,” said Vignati. “I’m grateful for this amazing opportunity to join such a distinguished music department.”
The talented students of the Drake music department welcome two guest artists for this production—Drake alumnus Timothy Bostwick (AS ’09) as Falstaff, and McGill University master’s student Diego Valdez as Fenton.
Ticket sales are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors and students with a school I.D. Tickets may be purchased at the Drake University Fine Arts Box Office, 515-271-3841 during box office hours (M-F 12-6 p.m., weekends 12-4 p.m.) or online at https://www.drakeopera.com/tickets.
The performances will be sung in Italian with supertitles and dialogue in English, so anyone can enjoy this spectacle of a show.
Falstaff is the story of a man who bites off more than he can chew when he tries to win the hearts of two women who have more wit than he realizes. What will happen when these women and their friends discover his scandalous ways?
Voice teaching assistant Christine Blanner will be the assistant director for the production, and Leanne Freeman-Miller, professor of voice, will be the musical director. Props and scenery elements are provided by Des Moines Metro Opera.
Cast and production information is available at https://www.drakeopera.com/.