Heartbreak and Humor on Display with School of Music’s Opera Scenes

Vocal selections are hand-picked to suit each performer’s unique talents

Livestreamed performances February 19-20, 7:30 p.m.

For those seeking an evening of entertainment packed with drama, romance and humor, look no further than the upcoming Opera Scenes event produced by the BYU School of Music.

Performances will include a sampling of beloved operas throughout history, written by masters such as Bizet, Verdi, Puccini and Wagner.

“I chose a repertoire perfectly suited for each singer’s voice,” said director Joshua Lindsay. “Each scene will be beautifully portrayed, both in singing and acting.”

Lindsay will sing a duet from Wagner’s Tannhäuser alongside budding dramatic soprano Sarah Knight. 

Other program selections include “The Merry Wives of Windsor, “Fidelio,” “Carmen,” “La Traviata,” “Lucia,” “La Boheme,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Arabella,” “Lakme,” “Un Giorno di Regno” and “Merry Widow.”

“The ‘Lucia’ scene will be very dramatic, with feuding lovers quarreling over the marriage of Lucia,” Lindsay said. “And the ‘Merry Widow’ scene is the finale of the operetta where Danilo puts his pride aside and tells Hannah he loves her.” 

The peaks and valleys of romance are also on display in a scene from “La Traviata,” about a woman on her deathbed and the lover who returns to be reunited with her. 

Whether it’s plotting a practical joke in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” or hashing out a conflict between gypsies over tarot cards in “Carmen,” each character portrayed possesses a captivating story that has enchanted audiences across the centuries.

To comply with COVID precautions, singers will perform while wearing masks. “Although [the masks are] not ideal, we are still grateful to be able to sing and act these scenes,” Lindsay said.