From Sondheim’s The Frogs to Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and from Gilbert and Sullivan to a contemporary spoof on dreams of stardom, the HSU Opera Workshop student singers present an eclectic program of selections from musical theatre, opera and operetta, on Friday, November 3 and again on Sunday, November 5 in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Both shows start at 8 PM.

“ Some of the selections are irreverent, some are sublime, and some have elements of the ridiculous,” according to Elisabeth Harrington, HSU Assistant Professor of Voice and stage director for the evening. The scenes are staged as well as sung, beginning with the rousing “Invocation and Introduction to the Audience” from Stephen Sondheim’s contemporary musical version of The Frogs by Aristophanes.

There are four selections from the opera repertoire, beginning with very near the beginning: from opera’s first century, the second act finale of L’Egisto by Italian Baroque composer Francesco Cavalli (sung in English for these performances.)

A scene from Mozart’s The Magic Flute is followed by excerpts from two modern works, A Childhood Miracle by Ned Rorem and A Game of Chance, by Seymour Barab, a witty examination of luck and success featuring singers Mindy Willens, Guinevere Johnston and Emily Skold. A Game of Chance will be performed in its entirety on Dec. 7th, at 5pm in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The operetta form is represented by spirited selections from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. Singers will be accompanied by John Chernoff on piano throughout the performance.

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