The Buffalo Philharmonic and SUNY Fredonia’s Hillman Opera program are joining to celebrate Mozart’s beautiful fairy tale opera, “The Magic Flute,” in a semi-staged performance of the cherished, lighthearted masterpiece.
Performances are on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 23, at 2:30 p.m., at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo.
JoAnn Falletta is conductor for the event; Wayne Murphy is producer; SUNY Fredonia alumnus and Department of Theatre and Dance Professor Paul Mockovak, stage director; and SUNY Fredonia emerita Laurel Walford, costumer. Dr. Adam Luebke of the School of Music is chorusmaster and Voice faculty member James Harrington will perform the role of Sarastro. Alumni performers include Michael Hawk as Papageno, Mary Hangley as Pamina, John Tiranno as Tamino, Lucia (Helgren) Flowers as the Queen of the Night, Jordan Pitts as Monostatos, Margaret Eighmey as First Lady, Stephanie Foley Davis as Second Lady, Amanda Bottoms as Third Lady, Katherine Joslyn as Papagena, and Brandon Mecklenburg as the Priest and one of the Armored Men, joined by Robert Kleinertz.
School of Music students performing include Abigail Brudz, a Music Education major with a Voice concentration from Lancaster, N.Y., as the First Spirit; Alexandra Bastian, a Music Education major with a Voice concentration from Tonawanda as the Second Spirit; Erin Colaluca, a Music Performance major with a Voice concentration and minor in Arts Administration, from Fairport, as the Third Spirit. They are joined by Monostatos’ Henchmen including Ben Deschner, a junior Music Performance major with a Vocal concentration from Philadelphia; Daniel Novak, a junior Music Education and Music Performance major from Lake View; and Patrick Connolly, a senior Music Performance major with a Voice Concentration from Southold.
For tickets, go online.