Opera. The word conjures images of highbrow art, foreign languages and the Viking helmet-adorned fat lady singing at the end. The thought of actually going to an opera as opposed to a concert or movie is not a major consideration for most students.
But Dugg McDonough, associate professor and director of LSU Opera, wants that to change.
“Opera isn’t about people standing around and singing.” he said. “It involves singing, acting and movement and I think students would appreciate it if they saw it.”
McDonough said LSU Opera is a high-ranking program and produces quality singers.
“Just like students look to the football team to produce the next NFL players, people look to the Opera program for the next great singers,” he said.
Many students do not realize this program exists at the University or that there are major performances on campus.
According to archives of The Times Picayune, in 1919 the Old French Opera House in New Orleans burned to the ground for causes unknown.
Afterward, opera and theater were reborn in South Louisiana when LSU began its opera program in 1930. Alumna from that era included Frances Greer and Marguerite Piazza of the Metropolitan Opera.
Now, almost 75 years later, the program still is going strong, but lacks a significant student audience. Recently the productions have been modified to appeal to a broader audience, such as last year’s “Barber of Seville,” which was reset in the 1950s.
He said at Indiana University the opera is considered a “hot date” because it is impressive, romantic and allows students to get dressed up.
“[But] No tuxedos are required. We are not concerned with how the audience is dressed, we just want you to come,” McDonough said.
The Opera program will premiere “La Rondine” on Oct. 24. McDonough said this production would be a great introduction to opera for students.
“La Rondine” is an opera by Giacomo Puccini, one of the most famous opera composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known for “Madame Butterfly,” and “La Boheme.”
The story centers on Magda, a Parisian courtesan, who falls in love with Ruggiero. The two have a tumultuous West Side Story type romance, culminating with a powerful ending.
Matt Edwards, a graduate student who has a leading role in the production, said students rarely realize opera music is in the movies and television they watch.
“If students come to this production, they will recognize the music,” Edwards said. “The story is straightforward and deals with infidelity and love, which college students can relate to.”
The performance will feature supertitles, which are language translations projected onto a screen in time with the singing.
LSU Opera’s production of “La Rondine” has a cast entirely of students, some of whom sing professionally. Undergraduate and graduate students have leading roles, which McDonough said gives LSU students more performance opportunities in their college careers.
According to the University Relations Web site, recent LSU alumni opera stars include Paul Groves and Jeffrey Wells of the Metropolitan Opera, Shon Sims of the New York City Opera and Edward Scott Hendricks and Chad Shelton of the Houston Grand Opera, Central City, and the Wolf Trap Opera Company.
“What people don’t understand is that it is possible to make a living singing opera,” Edwards said. “The singers you see at LSU could be the next big thing in opera.”
“La Rondine” will run on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the LSU Union Theater. Tickets are available at the Union Box Office by calling 578-5128 or from Ticketmaster.