UNC Opera

UNC Opera performs a wide range of opera, operetta, and musical theater repertory, including both standard and new works.  Under the direction of Dr. Terry Rhodes, the company not only serves the educational and artistic needs of the University, but also provides affordable and accessible performances for the community. Each year, the group presents tailored outreach shows in K-12 public schools. Most UNC campus productions are double-cast, often with orchestra. UNC Opera generally presents two mainstage productions each year (one per semester), and has developed a reputation for presenting dynamic American programming, often with a tie to the state of North Carolina. The group performs in Hill Hall Auditorium, Memorial Hall, and Historic Playmakers Theater on the UNC campus. Recent collaborations have included performances with UNC's Dept. of Dramatic Art, Dept. of Communication Studies and the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

 This coming spring 2010, UNC Opera will collaborate again with the DDA to present the world premiere of “Searching for Spinoza” by UNC alumna Suzanne Ishee and Thomas Conroy (April 16-20 at the Elizabeth Kenan Theater, Julie Fishell stage director, Terry Rhodes, music director). That production is part of a broader cross-campus interdisciplinary initiative examining the separation of church and state, which will include Professor Randall Styer’s new course entitled “Religious Freedom.” This fall 2009, UNC Opera presents Cavalli’s “L’Egisto” (Nov 20 and 21 in Hill Hall Auditorium) with baroque orchestra conducted by Prof. Brent Wissick. Professors Wissick and Jeanne Fischer will be teaching a new baroque performance practice course in the fall to integrate with the Cavalli production. We also are privileged to have a week-long residency with the internationally renowned baroque ensemble “Tragicomedia” Oct. 13-17.

Throughout its history, UNC Opera has presented a variety of works by American composers, including the East Coast premiere of Robert Moran's "From the Towers of the Moon" with the composer and librettist Michael John LaChiusa in residence, the world premiere of James Legg's "The Power of Xingu" (with the composer in residence), the NC premieres of Milton Granger's "talk opera" and "The Proposal" (composer in residence), Richard Wargo's "The Music Shop" and James Harp's "The Tale of Johnnie S. Kickey" (an adaptation of Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi").

Other highly praised recent productions have included French Baroque opera -- Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's "Cephale et Procris" (HPT) -- to classic and modern masterpieces including Mozart's "Cosi fan tutti" (Memorial Hall), Britten's "Albert Herring," and Blitzstein's "The Cradle Will Rock" (HPT).

In 2007-2008, the ensemble performed Jason Robert Brown’s "Parade" in Memorial Hall (with orchestra) in a collaboration between the departments of music and communication studies and Carolina Performing Arts – a part of the overarching, campus-wide conversation through the arts about the death penalty. We participated in the CPA’s “Gender Project” last academic year with performances of Poulenc’s "The Breasts of Tiresias" and performed Cimarosa’s "The Secret Marriage"in spring of 2009.

Auditions for UNC Opera productions typically are held in the preceding semester. For information, contact: Dr. Terry Rhodes, Professor and Chair, 105 Hill Hall and 3121 Kenan Music Building, 919-962-1039, or by email at rhodes@email.unc.edu.