Rossini and Puccini, Operas of Comedy and Consequence

This spring’s double bill pairs two contrasting one-act operas that explore themes of familial obligation and personal sacrifice. Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio (The Marriage Contract) is a fast-moving farce about an arranged marriage gone awry, featuring spirited ensembles and the youthful energy of Rossini’s earliest operatic style. Puccini’s Suor Angelica, part of his Il trittico trilogy, tells the poignant story of a noblewoman forced into a convent, whose encounter with her estranged aunt leads to a heartrending climax. Sung in Italian with English surtitles, these one-act operas offer a night of contrasting emotions, memorable characters, and compelling scores. 

CONDUCTOR: Katherine Kilburn
STAGE DIRECTOR: Melanie Helton
SET DESIGNER: Thalia Lara
LIGHT DESIGNER: Brent Wrobel

Join the opera’s director, Melanie Helton, for preview lectures held 45 minutes before each performance. 

Generously sponsored by Susan Davis, the Eleanor H. and Harold E. Leichenko Opera Endowment established by Lauren Julius Harris, and the Richard and Joan Witter Endowment for MSU Opera Theatre. The entire Opera Theatre Season is underwritten by the Worthington Family Foundation.