Meadows Opera Theatre
Scene from SMU Opera’s The Magic Flute
The seasonal Opera Free for All
From 2016: Mozart’s The Magic Flute
Behind the scenes with Meadows Opera Theatre
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The award-winning Meadows Opera Theatre, under the direction of Hank Hammett, offers imaginative, diverse and cutting-edge productions of repertoire encompassing a wide range of opera, operetta, and musical theatre, providing extensive performance opportunities to vocal students at the undergraduate, graduate, performer diploma and artist diploma levels. A main focus of the multi-tiered program is intensive acting technique training, professional audition preparation, and its partnership with The Dallas Opera.
Meadows Opera Theatre annually presents its popular Opera Free For All monthly Brown Bag Series of scenes and one-act operas as well as innovative full productions throughout the year.
Main stage productions are accompanied by the brilliant Meadows Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Paul Phillips. Recent major stagings include Copland’s The Tender Land, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, Britten’s Albert Herring, and Mozart’s Il re pastore, Le nozze di Figaro, and La finta giardiniera. For more information, please contact Mr. Hammett at chammett@smu.edu.
2017-18 Opera Season
Bite-size Arias/Big-size Talents
Meadows Opera Theatre
September 15, 2017
1 p.m.
Bob Hope Lobby – Owen Arts Center
FREE
The Opera Free For All series annual popular opener showcases every member of the Meadows Opera Ensemble in 60-second arias and songs of their choice as they challenge themselves to make a strong, positive and lasting impression and declare, "This is who I am as a singing actor!" in only one minute. You'll reconnect with some of your favorite singing actors and meet some exciting newcomers. Be the first to discover the stars of tomorrow!
When the Night Wind Howls
Meadows Opera Theatre
November 3, 2017
1 p.m.
Bob Hope Lobby – Owen Arts Center
FREE
Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever felt the presence of a deceased loved-one? Do these spirits really exist in the physical world or are they simply manifestations of our human fear, guilt, shame and loneliness that play tricks on our mind? In the hands of brilliant opera and musical theatre composers like Verdi, Britten, Menotti, Corigliano, Donizetti, Simon and Sondheim, these phantoms do indeed live and continue to haunt us, both on the stage and long after we leave the theatre.
Alcina by Georg Friedrich Händel
Directed by Hank Hammett
Conducted by Paul Phillips, MSO
Meadows Opera Theatre
February 8. 9. 10 & 11, 2018
Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 pm
Sunday at 2:00 pm
Bob Hope Theatre – Owen Arts Center
No one can resist the spell of the glamorous, alluring enchantress Alcina, who has conjured a magical island paradise where she lures unsuspecting, vulnerable men who are blinded by illusion, desire and pleasure. In this transient world where nothing is exactly as it seems, can anyone tell what's real? Amid a tangle of romantic conflicts, seductions and captivating deceptions, Händel explores the fascinating and powerful complexities of how human beings suffer in love in this magnificent Baroque masterpiece. Sung in Italian with English projected titles.
Pépito by Jacques Offenbach
Meadows Opera Theatre
March 23, 2018
1 p.m.
Bob Hope Lobby – Owen Arts Center
FREE
The beautiful, flirtatious local inn hostess Manuelita has rejected the amorous advances of rival Vertigo and her childhood friend Miguel. Impressed by her loyalty to her fiancé, Pépito, Miguel agrees to take his place in the military so the couple can marry. However, a letter from Pépito presents stunning news for both Manuelita and Miguel! Learn who finally gets the girl in Offenbach's charming, one-act comedy, produced in partnership with The Dallas Opera. Sung in English.
A Happy Bernstein Birthday!
Meadows Opera Theatre
May 4, 2018
1 p.m.
Bob Hope Lobby – Owen Arts Center
FREE
In honor of Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday in August of 2018, we celebrate this amazing composer, conductor, educator, musician, cultural ambassador and humanitarian through his "artful way of learning" with iconic scenes from West Side Story, On the Town, Wonderful Town, Trouble in Tahiti, A Quiet Place and Candide. In his words, those who can "Shout the Big Dreams" will save us!