THE THREE LADIES ARE NOT HAPPY. Eighty
student singers and orchestra musicians
(along with nearly 50 students handling
technical elements) will stage The Magic Flute
in UWEC’s Gantner Concert Hall.

UW-Eau Claire’s Department of Music and Theatre Arts is set to charm audiences, young and old alike, with one of Mozart’s most famous operatic productions, The Magic Flute, debuting as part of their 2011 performance season. 

With whimsical and eclectic characters ranging from magical humans and animals to a gallant prince, distressed princess, and vindictive Queen, this classic tale of g ood versus evil provides operatic compilations agreeable to every ear. The opera will be sung in the traditional German with English dialogue.

The stage production is directed by Mitra Sadeghpour and the symphony orchestra conducted by Nobuyoshi Yasuda, both UWEC faculty. Additionally, Toni Poll-Sorenson is the show’s choreographer, Mike Mowry is the music director, and Kevin Gawley is scenic and lighting designer. The production is a huge collaborative effort between several fine arts academic departments. Sadeghpour finds the artistic collaboration between fields to amount to a true operatic gem.

“What I love most about opera is the collaboration between such a large number of artists from different disciplines who all work together to make one final, exciting product,” said Sadeghpour.

“What I love about opera is the collaboration between such a large number of artists from different disciplines who all work together to make one final, exciting product.” – Mitra Sadeghpour, director of UWEC’s production of The Magic Flute

The show is certainly an ambitious undertaking with nearly 80 student singers and orchestra musicians, not to mention the nearly 50 students involved in all elements of technical work from lighting and staging to costumes and makeup. Despite the enormity of the project, the music and theater department is a veteran to the process. They fully produce an opera every other year and provide scenes, one acts, and a children’s touring opera twice annually. This year, there will even be a special performance of The Magic Flute to area middle and high school students in early March. Previous UW-Eau Claire opera productions include Suor Angelia by Puccini and The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Sadeghpour is pleased with her opera choice this year, as it provides both valuable experience for students as well as enchanting entertainment for audience members.

“I selected it because I knew that our students who are studying to be professional musicians would benefit from performing the opera, both on stage and in the pit, and that they would then be prepared for future opportunities to perform it,” said Sadeghpour. “I also knew that the Eau Claire community would love the opera, and that it would appeal to lots of different people.”