ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Brian Staufenbiel, Director of Opera Program

Nicole Paiement, Musical Director

Each year, the UCSC Opera Theatre presents a fully staged opera production with orchestra. With the combined strong support of the university and of the community based Opera Circle, these productions have grown into one of the major highlights of the UCSC Music Department performances.

The quality and originality of the UCSC Opera Theater Productions has been recognized by the National Opera Association which awarded Staufenbiel and Paiement the "Opera Production Award" for their 2006 production of Britten's Midsummer Night's dream.

The opera program has quickly gained recognition throughout the West Coast not only as a strong department in opera and voice, but also as an ideal institution for young talented singers to gain much needed experience on the stage. The majority of the lead roles of each operas are sung by our strongest undergraduate singers, which gives young singers a rare opportunity. The complete Opera Program, which also comprises the Opera Workshop and the Opera in the School Program is carefully designed to offer a well-rounded educational experience to our voice majors.

Recent Opera Productions Include:

• Berlin to Broadway by KurtWeill

• Magic Flute by Mozart

• Carmen by Bizet

• The Elixir of Love by Donizetti

• Gianni Schicchi by Puccini

• The Medium by Menotti

• Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart

• Street Scene by Kurt Weill

• Don Giovanni by Mozart

• A Midsummer Night's Dream by Britten

• Die Zauberflöte by Mozart

• The Consul by Menotti

UCSC Opera Workshop

Course Objectives and Content

Introduction to acting techniques and terminology. Combining lectures, master classes, and class exercises to train the young actor-singer in the skills and craft of lyric opera theater and theater as a whole. Emphasis on character development through the use of music score/text analysis and acting techniques such as improvisation, character interaction, observation, word play and association, pantomime, and sensory recall. Introduction to self-awareness exercises that promote the use of performance tools such as articulation, breath, gesture, posture, and voice. Integration of acting and singing techniques through holistic approach: acting-singing synthesis.

Produce opera scenes for winter quarter performance (musical rehearsals, staging, sets, props makeup).

Lectures, Workshops and Master Classes

• Audition techniques and preparation

• Preparing a role, preparing music

• Recitative style, preparation, and staging

• Stage combat: fighting and fencing

• Makeup workshop, wigs, and costumes

• Marketing oneself as a singer

• Lyric theater dance

• Stage directing

• Production and management skills

• Scene design and construction