UNLV Opera presents a double bill of one-act operas at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 9 in the Rando-Grillot Recital Hall of the Beam Music Center. Composed by Antonio Salieri, Prima la musica e poi le parole will be sung in Italian with English supertitles; Thomas Pasatieri’s La Divina will be sung in English.
In Prima la musica, a composer and librettist debate which comes first — the music or the words — while two prima donnas fight for the leading role in their new opera. In La Divina, diva Madame Altina plans her farewell performance.
Prima la musica: Abigale Hennings plays the opera seria singer Donna Eleonora, while Danielle Noletto and Alonna Younger sing the opera buffa performer Tonina; Dongmin Byeon is the Poet and Joshua Thomas portrays the Maestro. La Divina: Courtney Schwalbe stars as Madame Altina, Christian Abbo and Isabel Ferguson alternate as her maid Cecily, and Hailey Sorrell and Cael Tolentino play Altina’s conductor.
Darryl Cooper music directs both operas with Spencer Baker as the pianist; Linda Lister directs Prima la musica and Olivia Yokers directs La Divina. Tickets are $10 and available at unlv.edu/pac or by calling 702-895-ARTS (2787). Discounts are available.
About the UNLV College of Fine Arts
The UNLV College of Fine Arts, one of the nation's largest fine arts colleges, boldly launches visionaries who transform the global community through collaboration, scholarship, and innovation. Established in 1992, the UNLV CFA encompasses the departments of art, dance, film, theatre, the School of Music, School of Architecture, Entertainment Engineering & Design, and is home to the Performing Arts Center, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, and Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art.
We illuminate the power of the arts amidst breathtaking advancements in science and technology. In doing so, we are creating a global destination at the forefront of transforming arts and design. To accomplish this we encourage agency, inventiveness, problem-solving, and big-idea thinking in our students, faculty, and staff. We make education relevant through evolving curriculum and effective learning outcomes.
