Opera

The USD Opera offers students the opportunity to bring music and drama to life on the stage. The multiple national award-winning program trains performers to become believable and compelling singing-actors in operatic literature from the Baroque period through the contemporary lyric theater.

Every year, USD Opera produces a minimum of two productions. The fall production consists of a children’s opera, one-act or scenes program and includes outreach opportunities in the region. In the spring, USD Opera produces a full main stage opera with orchestra.

Opera students find out who they are as artists as they receive individual attention and personalized guidance from dedicated, highly skilled and acclaimed faculty. Find your voice, unlock your potential and discover your passion for a lifetime.

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Auditions

Auditions for the fall production occur in the first week of classes in the fall semester. Spring production auditions take place in early December. For most of the auditions, an aria or song of your choice is requested and a pianist is provided. Audition information is posted in the Fine Arts building, but the auditions are open to all students. If cast, students must register for 1 credit of Opera Workshop (MUEN 107/307/707).

Rehearsals

Rehearsals take place from 2 - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, for some roles, M-W-F or T-Th availability may be acceptable at the discretion of the director. Additional rehearsals may be required in the evening and on weekends, particularly in the spring semester.

Upcoming Productions 2021-2022:

• "All Together Now: Operatic Scenes and Ensembles,” featuring a variety of scenes by Bizet, Copland, Donizetti, Humperdinck, Mozart, Rossini, Sondheim, and Gilbert & Sullivan.
•  Directed by Juan Carlos Mendoza, D.M.A.
  • Saturday, November 20 at 7:30pm in Colton Recital Hall
  • Sunday, November 21 at 3:00pm in Colton Recital Hall

• 2^nd Annual “Death by Chocolate & Aria: Divas at the Dome” Opera Gala.
  • Saturday, January 22 at 7:00pm at the Dome Club (Sanford Coyote Sports Center)
• Main stage opera:  Handel’s masterpiece, Alcina, centers on a malicious sorceress who uses her magic to make men fall in love with her and turns them into stone when she tires of them.  Alcina has captured the knight Ruggiero, whose fiancée, Bradamante, embarks on a rescue mission to save her love, setting the stage for a climatic showdown.  Will Alcina’s evil spell finally be broken?
• Directed by Tracelyn Gesteland, D.M.A.
• Conducted by Luis Viquez, D.M.A.
  • Saturday, April 30 at 7:30pm in Aalfs Auditorium (Slagle Hall)
  • Sunday, May 1 at 3:00pm in Aalfs Auditorium (Slagle Hall)

For questions or more information, please contact:

The USD Opera has won national awards and received recognition every year since 2011: