CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University Lyric Drama Performance Studio will perform scenes from four popular operas by Mozart at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Ashbrook Independent School, 4045 SW Research Way, Corvallis.

Mozart composed 22 operas, many of which have become cornerstones of the standard operatic repertoire. Both performances feature scenes and selections from four of Mozart’s most performed operas: “La Nozze di Figaro;” “Don Giovanni;” “Cosi fan tutte;” and “Die Zauberflöte.”

“Singing Mozart is an important formational experience for singers-in-training,” said OSU Lyric Director Anthony Eversole, “as they face the technical challenges of this repertoire, and become accustomed to the conventional demands of classical period performance practice.”

OSU Lyric has teamed up with Heather Knight, OSU assistant professor of computer science and robotics; OSU robotics graduate student Janani Swaminathan and the CHARISMA (Collaborative Humans and Robotics: Interaction, Sociability, Machine learning and Art) Lab to create a robotic representation of the “Commendatore” character in the “Don Giovanni” scene.

“We’ve had artists-in-residence in our lab, but this is our first time being roboticists-in-residence to an artistic production,” Knight said. “Hopefully this will be the start of many more collaborations – one day we hope that calling a performance ‘robotic’ will be a compliment.”

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. OSU students with ID and K-12 youth will be admitted free. Corvallis Arts for All discounts apply and are valid for purchase of up to two tickets for $5 each upon presentation of current SNAP card. Advance tickets are available online at http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/musicevents.

To request accommodations relating to a disability please call 541-737-4671, preferably 72 hours in advance.

College of Liberal Arts

About the OSU College of Liberal Arts: The College of Liberal Arts encompasses seven distinct schools, as well as several interdisciplinary initiatives, that focus on humanities, social sciences, and fine and performing arts. Curriculum developed by the college’s nationally and internationally-renowned faculty prepares students to approach the complex problems of the world ethically and thoughtfully, contributing to a student's academic foundation and helping to build real-world skills for a 21st century career and a purposeful life.

Story By: 

Zachary C. Person, 541-737-4671, [email protected]

Source: 

Anthony Eversole, 541-737-2498, [email protected]

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