A delightful twist on the classic Cinderella tale, Rossini’s La Cenerentola presents a heartwarming journey filled with themes of forgiveness, transformation, and the power of hope. This operatic gem follows the story of two hearts on their journey to their happy ending. Kind-hearted Angelina, known as Cenerentola, faces hardships and unexpected twists with grace while Prince Ramiro searches for true love, guided not by a fairy godmother, but the wise Alidoro. This MSU production offered humor, humanity, and operatic brilliance with Rossini’s signature bel canto style.

A fairy tale for all ages, Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a dazzling journey through darkness and light. The story follows Prince Tamino, princess Pamina, and the comedic sidekick Papageno as they embark on a magical journey filled with trials and wonders that reveal profound truths about love, enlightenment, and the human spirit. The opera features the Queen of the Night’s iconic aria, Der Hölle Rache, in a dramatic production that blends captivating music with transformative storytelling. This production marked the triumphant return of this Mozart classic that won a National Opera Association first place award when presented by MSU in 2014.

Based on the escapades of libertine Don Juan, Don Giovanni follows the antics of an arrogant and sexually promiscuous nobleman who commits murder and dupes nearly every character in the cast. MSU singers and orchestra brought this brilliant mix of comedy, melodrama, and the supernatural to life to the delight of audiences. This opera, which made its debut in 1787, is considered by many to be one of the greatest of all time, and the MSU production became a two-time finalist for American Prizes in Directing (Melanie Helton) and Opera Performance.

More than a love triangle, the Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music paints a complex relationship that is more of a love pentagon! Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this work showcasing music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim presents a lusciously tangled web spun by an actress, her two lovers, and their wives. With captivating music featuring Send in the Clowns—one of the most recorded songs of all time—this production is witty, engaging, and ultimately a celebration of love. This MSU production became a two-time finalist for American Prizes in Directing (Melanie Helton) and Musical Theater Performance, and was awarded second place in Division IV by the National Opera Association.

Set in England in the early 15th century, Verdi’s towering final opera Falstaff follows the misadventures of an aged knight in his foolish attempt to woo two married women and gain access to their fortunes. Inspired by Shakespearean wit found in works such as The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry V, the production combines comedy with ensemble writing that brings rich layers of music to the stage. A premiere for MSU Opera Theatre, this production was awarded first place in The American Prize: College Opera Production Category and second place in the Charles Nelson Reilly Directing Awards (Melanie Helton).

Written by Mozart at the young age of 18, La Finta Giardiniera tells a story of love, deception and forgiveness. The opera follows a noblewoman, Violante, as she goes undercover as the gardener Sandrina to confront her ex-lover Belfiore. Mozart’s score for the opera features a combination of lyrical arias and comic ensembles. MSU Opera Theatre performed the opera for the first time in November of 2011.

Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring is a comic tour-de-force that tells the story of a shy, virtuous young man from a small English town who is unexpectedly elected May King of a bucolic village. The libretto, adapted from a 19th-century short story by French author Guy de Maupassant, brings sharp wit and social satire to life through Britten’s vibrant score. This MSU production was a two-time finalist in the American Prize for Opera Performance and Directing (Melanie Helton) and earned Second Prize in Division IV of the National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competition.

This fanciful production wove together three 20th century operatic masterworks to tell the story of a dysfunctional, musical family in the early 1960s experiencing an ordinary night turned extraordinary. Music details: Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music (text by Shakespeare), Samuel Barber’s A Hand of Bridge (text by Gian Carlo Menotti), and Maurice Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (from The Child and the Enchantments, text by Colette). This production was recognized by the American Prize for Directing (Melanie Helton).