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Full-length opera to include students from UMass Dance, Hampshire Young People’s Chorus

AMHERST (MA) – The Opera Workshop program of the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance will present Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel on Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17 (7:30 p.m. both evenings) and Sunday, February 18 at 3:00 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. The work will be performed in English.

Led by Marjorie Melnick, William Hite and Jamie-Rose Guarrine, the Opera Workshop program provides students from UMass and across the Five Colleges with the opportunity to present masterworks of opera and musical theatre while gaining lyric stage and production skills.

The production’s guest director is Nathan Troup, Associate Director of Opera Studies at The Boston Conservatory, who spent the past two seasons as Boston Lyric Opera's Emerging Artist-Stage Director. Music direction is by Mark Lane Swanson, Senior Lecturer in Music and Director of Instrumental Music at Amherst College, and musical preparation is by UMass Voice Faculty member Marjorie Melnick.

Adding to the unique nature of this year’s Opera Workshop production is the involvement of students from the UMass Dance Program, led by Tom Vacanti, and the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus, led by UMass alumna K.C. Conlan.

In creating his first complete opera, Humperdinck was inspired by the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, though with significant changes to the original story, and by the sweeping romanticism of his mentor, Richard Wagner.  Hansel and Gretel debuted at Weimar’s Court Theater in 1893 under the baton of Richard Strauss.  The work, with its lush, rich harmonies, humor, and soaring melodies, has since become a favorite of both serious opera lovers and young audiences alike. 

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $5 for students, seniors and children through age 18.  UMass students are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 413-545-2511, or online at www.fineartscenter.com/musicanddance.

Free and secure parking is available in the nearby Campus Center Garage, located on Campus Center Way. Visit the Fine Arts Center website for more information or refer to the UMass interactive parking map.