Contact: Peter Wordelman | EOU Music Dept.
541-962-3352 | pwordelm@eou.edu
8 February 2010
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) - The Portland Opera To Go program is back at Eastern Oregon University this week, staging two performances Feb. 9 and Feb. 12.
On Tuesday, EOU music students join forces with Portland Opera members to present "A Night of Arias," with special guests Alexis Hamilton and Stacey Murdock. Hamilton is the director of education and outreach for the Portland Opera, and Murdock is a frequent performer with Portland Opera To Go program. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall. Tickets are $5 at the door.
The Union County Children's Choir will be showcased for Friday's concert with a presentation of "The Voyage of the Good Ship Chipmunk" in the second half of the performance.
Opera scenes featuring EOU students performing duets, trios and quartets will open the program. A large number of the scenes are from operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan. Hamilton and Murdock will be directing.
"The Voyage of the Good Ship Chipmunk" is a collection of songs tied together with a script written by Thomas Madden, EOU professor emeritus. Peter Wordelman, director of the Union County Children's Choir, asked Madden if he would be interested in helping to create a theatrical event for the Portland Opera's visit.
With additional help from Amanda Slippy and Mollie Baum, Children's Choir assistants, the production of the short opera was created. Hamilton will work with the children during her week in La Grande and Murdock will serve as the main character in the production. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. Admission is free, with donations accepted at the door.
This is the final performance of a week-long project with the Portland Opera To Go program, which has spent time at EOU each year for the past eight to ten years.
For more information contact Wordelman at 541-962-3585 or e-mail pwordelm@eou.edu.
Eastern Oregon University - One University Boulevard - La Grande, OR 97850-2899 - Phone: 541-962-3672
