UW-Stevens Point’s Opera Workshop to present two operas this spring

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Opera Workshop will present both public and outreach opera performances this spring.

Performances of "Dido and Aeneas" will take place in the Michelsen Concert Hall of the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18. General admission tickets are $17, with a $40 VIP ticket option available as well for the opening night, which includes a pre-performance reception and priority seating. Tickets can be purchased at uwsptickets.universitytickets.com.

"Dido and Aeneas" is set in the 1870s in Appalachia and tells the love story of Dido and Aeneas which goes awry due to circumstances outside of the lovers' control.

"Since its origins in classical antiquity the story of Dido and Aeneas has lived in the courts of Carthage - a world of queens, heroes and fate," said Professor Matthew Markham, director and producer of the mainstage opera. "Yet beneath the myth lies an immediate and human story: a woman torn between love and duty, a man pulled by forces beyond his control and a community watching as love unravels into heartbreak.

The outreach opera program, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf," will be performed for Central Wisconsin schools as well as free public performances. Led by Teaching Assistant Professor Natalie Cummings, outreach performances will travel to 12 Central Wisconsin schools for more than 3,600 pre-k through middle school students in April and May.

This opera is an engaging, short, family-friendly opera adaptation set to Mozart's "Don Giovanni" music where Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs and the Boy Who Cried Wolf unite to teach the bully Big Bad Wolf how to be a friend.

"Many of our students came to UWSP to study to be future music educators and performers because they were exposed to opera and other so-called 'classical' music performances at a young age," said Cummings. "They are passionate about being the ones to expose a new generation to music through these accessible outreach performances. Through this performance we hope to teach about the importance of kindness and friendship, while showing kids that opera can be fun and exciting!"

Free public performances include:

• Wednesday, April 22, 4 p.m. - Michelsen Hall, Noel Fine Arts Center, UW-Stevens Point campus
• Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. - Marathon County Public Library, Wausau
• Saturday, April 25, 2 p.m. - McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids
• Saturday, April 25, 4 p.m. - Opera House Annex, downtown Stevens Point