Meadows Opera Theatre presents comic masterpiece 'Albert Herring'
This comic opera masterpiece tells the tale of the only virgin left in a small English town, a meek, shy mama’s boy who is crowned May King when none of the local girls are deemed pure enough to wear the crown.
This comic opera masterpiece tells the tale of the only virgin left in a small English town, a meek, shy mama’s boy who is crowned May King when none of the local girls are deemed pure enough to wear the crown.
When his buddies secretly spike his coronation lemonade with rum, Albert goes on a bender and gains the courage to discover what the world outside his mama’s greengrocer shop has to offer, much to the shock and horror of the proper, puritanical townsfolk!
Full of delightfully wicked, deftly drawn characters, Britten’s chamber opera sparkles with freshness, color and limitless charm. Sung in English with English supertitles, this production is a part of the official Britten 100 International Centenary Celebration of the composer’s birth.
| When | Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 8 p.m. Friday, February 8, 2013 - 8 p.m. Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 8 p.m. Sunday, February 10, 2013 - 2 p.m. |
| Where | Bob Hope Theatre - Owen Arts Center |
| Prices & Tickets |
$13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for students, faculty & staff Buy tickets online. |
| Contact | For more information, call 214-768-ARTS. |
From the SMU Magazine
Alumni’s sons cast in Meadows opera
Colin Beaton and Hunter Parkhill are incredible “brats,” and their parents could not be prouder.
Colin, 13, the son of Julia ’84 and Ross Beaton, and Hunter, 13, the son of Karen ’87 and Jeff Parkhill, will take turns playing the role of the mischievous Harry, described as the “village brat,” in the opera Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten. SMU’s Meadows Opera Theatre will present the comedic masterpiece February 7-10 as an official participant in the “Britten 100” international celebration of the centenary of the renowned composer.
“Albert Herring is an absolute joy and definitely a crowd-pleaser, a perfect opera for a first-timer because it’s full of crazy characters from a small town with which we can all easily identify,” says SMU Director of Opera Hank Hammett. “It’s full of laughs and it’s in English!”
The opera holds special significance for Hammett: “As a young singer, I had the privilege to work with, and subsequently become dear friends with, Eric Crozier, the librettist for Albert Herring, and his wife Nancy Evans, who created the role of Nancy. They fell in love during the writing of the opera, and you can hear that in the music Britten wrote for her character.
“Although they are now passed, for years I got to hear stories and stories about the creation of Albert and how important it is to find just the right kind of young man to play Harry, as he can make or break the show,” adds Hammett. “I know they would adore Colin and Hunter. They are both fantastic in the role.”
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