Opera takes a new turn

Photo by: Henoc Kivuye

Oklahoma Christian University is bringing a new tune to an old tradition in the music department.

“This year we’re doing a couple of different opera scenes,” junior music major Lauren Wheeler said. “We’re doing a whole act from La Traviata, and then we’re doing duets, trios and sextets from other composers like Mozart.”

The opera is not just limited to those enrolled in music; all students have the chance to sign up.

“This is something the music department does,” Wheeler said. “A lot of students who are on scholarship for music are required to audition for the opera. So it’s kind of extra-curricular, kind of not.”

Those who want to audition prepare clips from one classical aria and one art song. The student sings their pieces in the recital hall for the judges, who then make the final decision. Auditions for this year’s opera were held back in November.

Former Professor of Music Ken Adams ran the music portion of the opera in past years. Since Adams has retired, Rebekah Parker and Carly Conklin, two Oklahoma Christian alumni, will conduct the opera.

“This is the first year for Oklahoma Christian to have an opera scenes program,” Parker said. “In the past, before Dr. Adams retired, the music department would produce a fully staged opera or operetta.”

The opera presents a unique experience as students involved get to participate with people they don’t normally perform with.

“I usually perform in ensembles,” junior band member John Dodson said. “It’s fun to get together with people and work on something in a group and then perform it together.”

Dodson has played trombone with the Oklahoma Christian band for three years now, and said he doesn’t get stage fright.

“I’ve been playing so long it’s basically second nature to me,” Dodson said. “But there are a lot of people who are probably getting up for the first time, so I’d just tell them to relax and trust that they know their parts.”

This is Wheeler’s third year to participate in the opera, and even though the setup is different this year, she loves it.

“I love doing the opera,” Wheeler said. “It’s a great opportunity to take all the music we work on in voice lessons and perform an actual plot. In the past, the operas haven’t been all that well known. They’ve been newer ones that we’ve done in English. But this year, we’ll be doing the opera in the original language, Italian. Since we’re doing the entire first act, it’s a little different, but I like it.”

For students who may immediately shy away from the sound of Vikings singing soprano, Wheeler said that they should give it a chance.

“There is a lot of really good acting going on in the opera,” Wheeler said. “You don’t have to understand the language to love it. It’s just a musical that you can’t really understand. It’s only an hour long and it’s free. So give it a chance.”

According to Dodson, students who haven’t had the chance to see a live show, whether it’s a concert with the band, a musical or opera, or even a play, should go into the performance without expectations.

“You can’t go into a performance like this without an open mind,” Dodson said. “If you can’t get past what you think it’s going to be, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s part of the audience’s job to sit and be good listeners.”

For students interesting a night in at the opera, the performance will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2 in the Recital Hall.