Greensboro Opera & UNCG Opera Theatre prepare an enchanted evening of arias, Oct. 6

It’s time to dress up and spruce up that Black Tie attire as the Greensboro Opera and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Opera Theater Department present a musical soirée of opera arias during the 2012 Opera Gala on Saturday, October 6.

Grand opera arias will be sung by UNCG alumni and current UNCG opera students, accompanied by the University Symphony Orchestra. This enchanted evening will take place on the university campus at Aycock Auditorium.

Dmitry Sitkovetsky, music director of the Greensboro Symphony since 1993, will lead the orchestra. Originally from Moscow, Sitkovetsky has built up a long career as a violinist, conductor, arranger, chamber musician & festival director in the United States.

Among the featured artists, is rising baritone, Sidney Outlaw, from Brevard, North Carolina. Outlaw holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the Juilliard School and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Among countless awards, he recently made his debut with the English National Opera as Rambo (The Death of Klinghoffer).
UNCG alum Joel Sorenstein has traveled throughout the United States singing with the Metropolitan and New York City Operas, the San Francisco Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, the San Diego Opera, the Atlanta Opera, the Florentine Opera, the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and Opera New Jersey, among others.

Stephanie Foley Davis, a University of North Carolina at Greensboro Opera Theatre graduate, has also performed with the
Arizona Opera and at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival. Davis was featured on “An Evening of Carolina Voices” with the Metropolitan Opera.

Enthusiastic about the upcoming gala, Greensboro Opera Board Chairman, Bert Davis Jr. said “This year has brought good news
for Greensboro Opera and good news for opera in Greensboro. We are producing more programs and serving more residents of all ages with great music.”

Greensboro Opera has seen its share of difficulties. With the downturn in the economy and cuts in public and private funding to arts organizations across the state, the Greensboro Opera was forced to cancel its 2011 performance of “La Bohème.”

This year, Davis reports, “Greensboro Opera is financially strong. The organization has no debt and we are looking forward to building a brighter future for opera in the area and we are thrilled to be partners with the talented David Holley and UNCG Opera Theatre.”

“It’s important to us because we are bringing back three alums who are making a name for themselves in the theatre world.

It’s exciting to see these students who have gotten their degrees and are out there making an impact in the opera world willing to come back and share their talents with current students. The rest are fabulous singers in their own rights,” said David Holley, director of opera at UNCG since 1992.

The UNCG Opera Theatre usually produces up to four shows a year. The 2012 Opera Gala will culminate the 17 DAYS Arts Festival sponsored the United Arts Council of Greensboro.

“We have collaborated with the Greensboro Opera for 11 yrs.

This event is just building on that great relationship we have already. When we first started talking about it, we wanted to collaborate with the 17 Days of Art,” said Holley.

He added, “During those 17 days, the community can enjoy all kinds of art and theatre and visual art. This is a showcase of current and future stars with a link to the overall community.”

The show will feature solo pieces, duets and big production numbers with nearly 60 people.

Featured artists are performing songs that Holley notes many people may recognize. “I guarantee you will recognize some songs. There is something for the novice, who will love hearing tunes they recognize; and wonderful music for the experts as well,” said Holley.

For ticket information, call 336-272-0160 or visit http://www.opera.uncg.edu.