Musicians in rehearsal in King Concert Hall.
A riveting French masterpiece will be presented as the 2026 Hillman Opera at SUNY Fredonia.
The Hillman Memorial Music Association, in collaboration with the Fredonia College of Music, Theatre, and Dance, presents "Dialogues of the Carmelites" on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry A. King Concert Hall of Rockefeller Arts Center.
Tickets are available online 24/7 and may also be purchased on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by phone at (716) 673-3501 or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
With music and libretto by Francis Poulenc, "Dialogues of the Carmelites" is considered a 20th century operatic masterpiece. The riveting tale unfolds in Paris during the French Revolution’s “Reign of Terror.” A young aristocrat seeks peace in a convent only to face the ultimate test of courage in a “story of sacrifice and profound spiritual strength that audiences will never forget.” The finale is considered one of most powerful in the world of opera.
The Hillman production will be presented in French with English supertitles. Associate Professor Don Marrazzo serves as producer while Dr. Emily Schaad is the music director/conductor and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Paul Mockovak is the stage director.
The student cast features four graduate students pursing their master’s degrees in Music Performance. They are:
- Gabrielle Gance, from Binghamton, NY, as Blanche de la Force.
- Andrew George, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as Chevalier de la Force.
- Amie Adams, from Hamburg, NY, as Madame Lidoine.
- Kayla Sorensen, from Glenwood, NY, as Mère Marie.
Undergraduates featured in the production are:
- Zechariah Beckett (Marquis de la Force), a Music Education major from Newark, Ohio.
- Hudson Smith (L’ Aumônier), a Music Education major from Gowanda, NY.
- Lindsay Haner (Sœur Constance), a Music Education and Performance major from Clintonville, NY.
- Margaret Shafer (Mère Jeanne), a Music Education and Vocal Jazz major with a minor in Mathematics, from West Falls, NY.
- Mia O'Malley (Sœur Mathilde), a Music Education and Voice Performance major from Peekskill, NY.
- Chris Dow (Thierry), a Music Education major from Amherst, NY.
- Dakota Morrison (Dr. Javelinot), a Music Composition major from Rome, NY.
- Zachary Formhals (First Commissioner), a Music Education and Performance major from Mastic Beach, NY.
- Sean Mahon (Second Commissioner & First Officer), a Music Performance major from Belfast, NY.
- Jude Chiarella (Jailor), a Music Education major with a minor in Theatre Arts, from Queens, NY.
- Miranda Wilcox (Madame de Croissy cover), a Music Education major from Falconer, NY.
- Ava Hartung (Blanche de la Force cover), a Music Education major from Fredonia.
The Hillman production of “Dialogues of the Carmelites” is made possible from support from SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus Julie Newell, Hillman Opera Patrons and Friends of the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center through the Fredonia College Foundation. It is presented as part of the 2026-27 Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union season.
