OREM, UTAH- Utah Valley University’s School of the Arts will be performing a French operatic piece based on the English tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Tickets for this four-night performance are available at uvu.edu/thearts.
Attendees will thrill to the white-hot sensuality and impassioned lyricism of Charles Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. Over the centuries, Romeo and Juliet has inspired all kinds of music. This is the only version that has stuck in opera repertory.
Isaac Hurtado, Director of Opera at UVU, spoke about the reason this performance is coming to Utah Valley. “This opera, due to the demanding singing required of the leading characters, is rarely performed in the college setting, and even more rarely performed in Utah Valley.” Hurtado said, “In fact, this may well be the Utah Valley premiere.”
Hurtado was quick to mention this performance is possible due to the unusually advanced and talented group of singers the university currently has.
“This is perhaps the highest caliber crop of opera singers UVU has ever produced,” he said. Several students, in both casts, have recently won awards at a large national vocal competition. “UVU’s two Romeos handle the fiendishly high range with ease, while our two Juliette's deftly deliver their roles, which include terrifyingly high and fast coloratura and moments of significant dramatic heft. The secondary roles are filled beautifully as well.”
Hurtado said it will be a gorgeous, romantic production that includes fantastic singing and acting, beautiful sets and lighting, and a lush orchestra. The fantastic vocals will be performed partially in English and French.
Romeo et Juliette will be performed in the Loveland Performing Arts Center Jan18-20 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for children and students, and $14 for the general public.
For event and ticket information, visit: uvu.edu/thearts.
About Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University is home to more than 35,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college, and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees.
###
